title: Feasibility of group lifestyle intervention for diabetes prevention in Arab Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community-based, culturally-specific, Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)-adapted, group lifestyle intervention in Arab-Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m(2)) Arab-Americans aged ≥ 30 years and without a history of diabetes were recruited to participate in a 24-week group lifestyle intervention. The DPP core-curriculum was culturally rewritten, translated into Arabic, and delivered in weekly sessions over a 12-week period. Follow-up was performed at week-24. The primary goals were to achieve ≥ 7% weight loss and ≥ 150 min/week of physical activity. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 71 participants (mean age ± SD 47 ± 10 years, 38% males), 44% achieved ≥ 7% weight loss, 59% achieved ≥ 5% reduction in weight, and 78% reached the physical activity goal of ≥ 150-min/week. The mean ± SD weight loss was 5.2 ± 4.4 kg at week-24 (p<0.0001), Marked reduction in body measurements, daily energy and fat intake were noted. Retention was high with 86% completing the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial demonstrates that a culturally-specific, DPP-adapted, group lifestyle intervention implemented in a community setting is feasible and effective in Arab-Americans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, MI, USA. ljaber@wayne.edu
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.forename: Nicole R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: Morton B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Martha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Funnell
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss