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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Ard
Jamy D
JD
Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. ardj@uab.edu
Kumanyika
Shiriki
S
Stevens
Victor J
VJ
Vollmer
William M
WM
Samuel-Hodge
Carmen
C
Kennedy
Betty
B
Gayles
Debra
D
Appel
Lawrence J
LJ
Brantley
Phillip J
PJ
Champagne
Catherine
C
Charleston
Jeanne
J
Svetkey
Laura P
LP
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology