A study of a culturally enhanced EatRight dietary intervention in a predominately African American workplace.
BACKGROUND
The workplace may be an ideal venue for engaging African American women in behavioral interventions for weight reduction.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of a culturally enhanced EatRight dietary intervention among a group of predominately African American women in a workplace setting.


METHODS
Crossover design study.


METHODS
Workplace.


METHODS
A total of 39 women volunteered for this study, of whom 27 completed it.


METHODS
The control period involved observation of participants for 22 weeks after receiving standard counseling on lifestyle methods to achieve a healthy weight; following the control period, participants crossed over to the 22-week intervention period. The intervention was culturally enhanced using feedback derived from formative assessment and delivered as 15 group sessions.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was the difference in weight change between the control and intervention periods; changes in waist circumference and quality of life were secondary outcomes.


RESULTS
Most participants were obese, with a mean baseline body mass index of 36 kg/m², weight of 97.9 kg, and waist circumference of 111 cm. Weight increased during the control period by 0.7 kg but decreased by 2.6 kg during the intervention (net difference = -3.4 kg, P <.001), with 30% of participants losing 5% or more of body weight. Compared to the control period, there was a significant decrease in waist circumference (-3.6 cm, P =.006) and improvement in weight-related quality of life (5.7, P =.03).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of a culturally enhanced behavioral weight loss intervention in a predominately African American workplace setting. The workplace may be conducive for targeting African American women who are disproportionately affected by obesity.
Ard
Jamy D
JD
Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 318 Webb Bldg, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. ardj@uab.edu
Cox
Tiffany L
TL
Zunker
Christie
C
Wingo
Brooks C
BC
Jefferson
Wendy K
WK
Brakhage
Cora
C
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003376:Counseling; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005246:Feedback; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult