title: Study design and protocol for moving forward: a weight loss intervention trial for African-American breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer survival rates are significantly lower among African-American women compared to white women. In addition, African-American women with breast cancer are more likely than white women to die from co-morbid conditions. Obesity is common among African-American women, and it contributes to breast cancer progression and the development and exacerbation of many weight-related conditions. Intervening upon obesity may decrease breast cancer and all-cause mortality among African-American breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Moving Forward is a weight loss intervention being evaluated in a randomized trial with a projected sample of 240 African American breast cancer survivors. Outcomes include body mass index, body composition, waist:hip ratio, and behavioral, psychosocial and physiological measures. Survivors are randomized to either a 6-month guided weight loss intervention that involves twice weekly classes and text messaging or a self-guided weight loss intervention based on the same materials offered in the guided program. The guided intervention is being conducted in partnership with the Chicago Park District at park facilities in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Chicago. Recruitment strategies include direct contact to women identified in hospital cancer registries, as well as community-based efforts. Data collection occurs at baseline, post-intervention (6 months) and at a 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study evaluates a community-based, guided lifestyle intervention designed to improve the health of African-American breast cancer survivors. Few studies have addressed behavioral interventions in this high-risk population. If successful, the intervention may help reduce the risk for breast cancer recurrence, secondary cancers, and co-morbid conditions, as well as improve quality of life.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  U.S. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02482506, April 2015.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226-3548, USA. mstolley@mcw.edu.|Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA. mstolley@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Melinda R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stolley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA. sharpl@uic.edu.|Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcome & Policy, UIC, College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL, USA. sharpl@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, UIC, College of Applied Health Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA. giamila@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Giamila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fantuzzi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226-3548, USA. carroy5@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Loyola University, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA. psheean1@luc.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheean
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226-3548, USA. lschiff@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiffer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA. dcamp@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226-3548, USA. bgerber@uic.edu.|Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA. bgerber@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D002641:Chicago / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011897:Random Allocation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss