title: Examining social influence on participation and outcomes among a network of behavioral weight-loss intervention enrollees.
abstract: Research suggests that social networks, social support, and social influence are associated with weight trajectories among treatment- and non-treatment-seeking individuals. This study examined the impact of having a social contact who participated in the same group behavioral weight-control intervention in the absence of specific social support training on women engaged in a weight-loss program. Participants (n = 92; 100% female; 54% black; mean age: 46 ± 10 years; mean BMI: 38 ± 6) were grouped based upon whether or not they reported a social contact enrolled previously/concurrently in our behavioral weight-control studies. Primary outcomes were 6-month weight change and treatment adherence (session attendance and self-monitoring). Half of the participants (53%) indicated that they had a social contact; black women were more likely to report a social contact than white women (67.3% versus 39.5%; P < 0.01). Among participants with a social contact, 67% reported at least one contact as instrumental in the decision to enroll in the program. Those with a contact lost more weight (5.9 versus 3.7 kg; P = 0.04), attended more group sessions (74% versus 54%; P < 0.01), and submitted more self-monitoring journals (69% versus 54%; P = 0.01) than those without a contact. Participants' weight change was inversely associated with social contacts' weight change (P = 0.04). There was no association between participant and contact's group attendance or self-monitoring. Social networks may be a promising vehicle for recruiting and engaging women in a behavioral weight-loss program, particularly black women. The role of a natural social contact deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. mistlc@uab.edu
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Eddings
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krukowski
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harvey-Berino
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001131:Arkansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*