Support needs of overweight African American women for weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
To examine social support needs of obese and overweight African American women for weight loss.


METHODS
Focus groups were conducted with overweight and obese African American women. Data were analyzed using standard grounded theory text analysis.


RESULTS
Our middle-aged (45.7 years; SD = 12.6) women (N = 66) were interested in receiving support from others focused on the health benefits of weight loss. Behaviors perceived as supportive include co-participating in exercise, providing nutrition education, using positive reinforcements, and avoiding criticism.


CONCLUSIONS
African American women are interested in a program designed to increase social support for their weight loss.
Thomas
Janet L
JL
University of Minnesota, Department of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. jthomas@umn.edu
Stewart
Diana W
DW
Lynam
Ian M
IM
Daley
Christine M
CM
Befort
Christie
C
Scherber
Robyn M
RM
Mercurio
Andrea E
AE
Okuyemi
Kolawole S
KS
Ahluwalia
Jasjit S
JS
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D050177:Overweight; D011203:Poverty; D012944:Social Support; D015431:Weight Loss