title: Developing culturally congruent weight maintenance programs for African American church members.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Developing community-based and culturally congruent weight loss maintenance programs is an important component of weight reduction interventions in high-risk populations. This qualitative investigation was conducted to guide development of faith-based weight maintenance programs for African American church members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty African American church members who previously participated in a church-based group weight loss program were recruited to participate in focus groups. This qualitative inquiry focused on the role of faith in maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as healthy eating and regular physical activity. Within these groups, a nominal group process was used to identify activities and language to be included within a faith-based maintenance program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content analysis identified seven conceptual domains that participants thought were important aspects of a faith-based weight maintenance program: (1) accountability for change targets, (2) programmatic tools, (3) group benefits and support, (4) keys to successful behavior change, (5) keys to church and programmatic level success, (6) addressing barriers, and (7) faith. The faith sub-domains included faith in the Lord, using the body for God, and a spiritual focus. The nominal group process resulted in 11 recommended components for a faith-based weight maintenance program. The top four included scriptures and prayers are 'walk of faith,' healthy diet, exercise, and focusing on God.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that integrating faith themes into a weight loss maintenance program may increase its long-term impact on participants' health behavior change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine and the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, GA, USA.
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fifield
authors.forename: Y Monique
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Davis-Smith
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Satterfield
authors.forename: Joy Goens
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: John Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boltri
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D012067:Religion; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain