title: Racial and socioeconomic differences in the weight-loss experiences of obese women.
abstract: Focus groups stratified by race and socioeconomic status were used to examine obese women's experiences with weight-loss methods. Six themes emerged: failure of weight maintenance, use of psychological and spiritual approaches, role of family influences and societal expectations, role of African American subculture, method affordability, and racial differences in weight-loss methods. Tailored weight-management interventions for women, particularly African Americans and those of low socioeconomic status, should account for features of African American subculture and address affordability concerns, include maintenance strategies that incorporate psychological and spiritual principles, and target family attitudes and behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine-Research Division, Case Western Reserve University, 11001 Cedar Ave, Suite 306, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. edw6@case.edu
authors.forename: Esa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrese
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology*; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*