BACKGROUND: The disproportionate disease burden experienced by African-American women can be explained partially by the higher rates of obesity in this population. African-American women who can benefit from weight loss may be less likely to attempt it and may have relatively less success in using traditional weight loss programs compared to White women. Steps to Soulful Living (Steps) was a pilot study to test the effects of a culturally adapted weight loss program on weight loss in African-American women. METHODS: Sixty-six African-American women participated in a 6-month weight loss program that included weekly group meetings and supervised exercise sessions. Mean baseline body mass index was 39 kg/m2, and mean baseline weight was 107 kg. Cultural adaptations, defined as program adjustments, made in response to women's preferences as expressed in focus group interviews included changes in intervention format, the content of the group meetings, and the location and format of the exercise sessions. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of the participants attended at least 50% of the 26 weekly sessions, and 56% attended at least 75% of the sessions. Average hours of exercise per week approximately doubled during the program in comparison to baseline levels. Mean weight loss at 26 weeks was 3.7 kg, categorizing those who were lost to follow-up as having zero weight loss. Participants who attended at least 75% of the group meetings lost a mean of 6.2 kg at six months. Those who attended fewer meetings lost a mean of 0.9 kg. CONCLUSIONS: This 6-month program was associated with relatively larger weight losses, particularly among participants with high attendance, than have usually been observed in culturally adapted programs for African-American women.
BACKGROUND: The disproportionate disease burden experienced by African-American women can be explained partially by the higher rates of obesity in this population. African-American women who can benefit from weight loss may be less likely to attempt it and may have relatively less success in using traditional weight loss programs compared to White women. Steps to Soulful Living (Steps) was a pilot study to test the effects of a culturally adapted weight loss program on weight loss in African-American women. METHODS: Sixty-six African-American women participated in a 6-month weight loss program that included weekly group meetings and supervised exercise sessions. Mean baseline body mass index was 39 kg/m2, and mean baseline weight was 107 kg. Cultural adaptations, defined as program adjustments, made in response to women's preferences as expressed in focus group interviews included changes in intervention format, the content of the group meetings, and the location and format of the exercise sessions. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of the participants attended at least 50% of the 26 weekly sessions, and 56% attended at least 75% of the sessions. Average hours of exercise per week approximately doubled during the program in comparison to baseline levels. Mean weight loss at 26 weeks was 3.7 kg, categorizing those who were lost to follow-up as having zero weight loss. Participants who attended at least 75% of the group meetings lost a mean of 6.2 kg at six months. Those who attended fewer meetings lost a mean of 0.9 kg. CONCLUSIONS: This 6-month program was associated with relatively larger weight losses, particularly among participants with high attendance, than have usually been observed in culturally adapted programs for African-American women.
Authors: M L Fitzgibbon; L M Tussing-Humphreys; J S Porter; I K Martin; A Odoms-Young; L K Sharp Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2011-11-10 Impact factor: 9.213
Authors: Andrea S Mendoza-Vasconez; Sarah Linke; Mario Muñoz; Dori Pekmezi; Cole Ainsworth; Mayra Cano; Victoria Williams; Bess H Marcus; Britta A Larsen Journal: Curr Sports Med Rep Date: 2016 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 1.733
Authors: Marian L Fitzgibbon; Melinda R Stolley; Pamela Ganschow; Linda Schiffer; Anita Wells; Nolanna Simon; Alan Dyer Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 1.798
Authors: Angelia M Paschal; Rhonda K Lewis; Arneatha Martin; Donna Dennis Shipp; Donna Sanders Simpson Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 1.798