A review: maximizing social support--a neglected strategy for improving weight management with African-American women.

Although research has identified various factors that can affect African-American women's weight management efforts, limited attention has been paid to the role of social support. Culling evidence from heretofore disparate studies, this article provides an overview of why adequacy of social support may be among the most critical factors affecting African-American women's weight management behaviors. The empirical evidence suggests that social support can enhance perceived control and/or self-efficacy, and this finding serves as a focal point for looking at aspects of weight loss programs, as well as providing a post-program strategy, in order to maximize this support among African-American women.