title: Peer support enhanced social support in adolescent females during weight loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of a peer support intervention and test an enhanced version compared to a standard protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 36 females) were assigned to an Enhanced Peer Support (PS) vs Standard weight loss group for 4 months. The PS component consisted of skills training and practice between sessions using social networking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PS group perceived significantly more peer support and experienced higher levels of social interaction. When meeting frequency decreased, the PS group showed an increase in overall types of support from group members.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that an intervention targeting peer support skills results in greater feelings of peer support.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, College of Education, Division of Kinesiology Health and Sport Studies, Detroit, MI, USA. nkulik@wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Noel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kulik
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior.
authors.forename: Edwin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Nutrition.
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior.
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ennett
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior.
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bowling
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior & Department of Nutrition.
authors.forename: Deborah F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010379:Peer Group; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss