Jennifer L Kraschnewski1, Kevin O Hwang2, Daniel R George3, Erik B Lehman4, Christopher N Sciamanna5. 1. Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States. Electronic address: jkraschnewski@hmc.psu.edu. 2. Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States. 3. Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine, United States. 4. Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States. 5. Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: As the prevalence of obesity in US adults continues to increase, addressing weight control will require an effective, lower-cost intervention. A model for delivering free peer-to-peer counselling has the potential to create a paradigm shift in the way weight and other chronic illnesses are addressed in the US. The objective of this study is to understand the potential for utilising successful peer volunteers as counsellors in weight control programmes and as a possible intervention strategy to address the global obesity epidemic in a cost-effective manner. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study surveyed a nationwide panel of US adults (n=806) in 2010. METHODS: We created survey items to identify participant interest in three specific types of weight control programmes: a free programme led by successful peers, a paid programme led by successful peers and a programme led by trained paid professionals. Statistical analysis was conducted in 2011. Logistic regression was used to adjust for the effect of potential confounders on participant interest in different weight control programmes and willingness to volunteer. RESULTS: More than three times as many subjects (27.4% vs. 8.3%) were interested in the free peer-led programme versus the expert-led paid option. Of participants who had ever had successful weight loss, 15% were interested in volunteering to help others lose weight. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals appear to be willing to both attend and conduct peer volunteer-led weight control groups. Further research is necessary to develop and test interventions to assess the effectiveness of such interventions.
OBJECTIVES: As the prevalence of obesity in US adults continues to increase, addressing weight control will require an effective, lower-cost intervention. A model for delivering free peer-to-peer counselling has the potential to create a paradigm shift in the way weight and other chronic illnesses are addressed in the US. The objective of this study is to understand the potential for utilising successful peer volunteers as counsellors in weight control programmes and as a possible intervention strategy to address the global obesity epidemic in a cost-effective manner. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study surveyed a nationwide panel of US adults (n=806) in 2010. METHODS: We created survey items to identify participant interest in three specific types of weight control programmes: a free programme led by successful peers, a paid programme led by successful peers and a programme led by trained paid professionals. Statistical analysis was conducted in 2011. Logistic regression was used to adjust for the effect of potential confounders on participant interest in different weight control programmes and willingness to volunteer. RESULTS: More than three times as many subjects (27.4% vs. 8.3%) were interested in the free peer-led programme versus the expert-led paid option. Of participants who had ever had successful weight loss, 15% were interested in volunteering to help others lose weight. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals appear to be willing to both attend and conduct peer volunteer-led weight control groups. Further research is necessary to develop and test interventions to assess the effectiveness of such interventions.
Authors: Alex H Krist; Steven H Woolf; Robert E Johnson; Stephen F Rothemich; Tina D Cunningham; Resa M Jones; Diane B Wilson; Kelly J Devers Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: J L Kraschnewski; J Boan; J Esposito; N E Sherwood; E B Lehman; D K Kephart; C N Sciamanna Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2010-05-18 Impact factor: 5.095
Authors: Christopher N Sciamanna; Michaela Kiernan; Barbara J Rolls; Jarol Boan; Heather Stuckey; Donna Kephart; Carla K Miller; Gordon Jensen; Terry J Hartmann; Eric Loken; Kevin O Hwang; Ronald J Williams; Melissa A Clark; Jane R Schubart; Arthur M Nezu; Erik Lehman; Cheryl Dellasega Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2011-08 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: K R Lorig; D S Sobel; A L Stewart; B W Brown; A Bandura; P Ritter; V M Gonzalez; D D Laurent; H R Holman Journal: Med Care Date: 1999-01 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Michael G Perri; Marian C Limacher; Patricia E Durning; David M Janicke; Lesley D Lutes; Linda B Bobroff; Martha Sue Dale; Michael J Daniels; Tiffany A Radcliff; A Daniel Martin Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2008-11-24