Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ard, JD; Kumanyika, S; Stevens, VJ; Vollmer, WM; Samuel-Hodge, C; Kennedy, B; Gayles, D; Appel, LJ; Brantley, PJ; Champagne, C; Charleston, J ...
Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring)
February 2008

OBJECTIVE: We do not know how racial composition of a group influences behavior change for African Americans (AAs) in group-based weight loss programs. We tested the hypothesis that AA who participate in all AA weight loss intervention groups will lose more weight than AA who participate in mixed race groups. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This observational study was ancillary to Phase 1 of the Weight Loss Maintenance Study, a multi-center trial of strategies to maintain weight loss after a 20-week behavior modification program. Three of four centers recruited several all-AA intervention groups. Remaining groups were combinations of AA and non-AA participants. All participants received the same weight loss intervention. Change in weight was the primary outcome, comparing participants of all-AA groups with AA participants of mixed race groups conducted by the same AA interventionists. Secondary outcomes included measures of intervention adherence and behavior change. RESULTS: Participants of all-AA groups (n = 271) were comparable to other AA participants (n = 106). The mean proportion of AA in mixed race groups was 56%. All-AA group participants had similar weight loss as those in mixed groups (-4.2 vs. -4.2 kg, P = 0.97). There were no differences between the groups in mean number of sessions attended or changes in dietary intake. DISCUSSION: Significant weight loss was observed in both groups, with no effect of group composition on adherence or weight loss outcomes. Special logistics to accommodate all-AA groups may not be necessary. Despite varying instructional environments, AA appeared to respond positively to intervention messages with significant changes in dietary intake, physical activity (PA), and weight.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Obesity (Silver Spring)

DOI

ISSN

1930-7381

Publication Date

February 2008

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

306 / 310

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Patient Compliance
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Motor Activity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity
  • Endocrinology & Metabolism
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ard, J. D., Kumanyika, S., Stevens, V. J., Vollmer, W. M., Samuel-Hodge, C., Kennedy, B., … Svetkey, L. P. (2008). Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans. Obesity (Silver Spring), 16(2), 306–310. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2007.49
Ard, Jamy D., Shiriki Kumanyika, Victor J. Stevens, William M. Vollmer, Carmen Samuel-Hodge, Betty Kennedy, Debra Gayles, et al. “Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans.Obesity (Silver Spring) 16, no. 2 (February 2008): 306–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2007.49.
Ard JD, Kumanyika S, Stevens VJ, Vollmer WM, Samuel-Hodge C, Kennedy B, et al. Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Feb;16(2):306–10.
Ard, Jamy D., et al. “Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans.Obesity (Silver Spring), vol. 16, no. 2, Feb. 2008, pp. 306–10. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/oby.2007.49.
Ard JD, Kumanyika S, Stevens VJ, Vollmer WM, Samuel-Hodge C, Kennedy B, Gayles D, Appel LJ, Brantley PJ, Champagne C, Charleston J, Svetkey LP. Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Feb;16(2):306–310.
Journal cover image

Published In

Obesity (Silver Spring)

DOI

ISSN

1930-7381

Publication Date

February 2008

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

306 / 310

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Patient Compliance
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Motor Activity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity
  • Endocrinology & Metabolism