title: Predictors of Weight Loss in African Americans with Prediabetes or Early Diabetes.
abstract: This study was supported by Clinical Research Grant (7-08-CR-27) from the American Diabetes Association and by a contract (58-1950-7-707) with the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. This article does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This analysis was undertaken to describe healthcare seeking, weight loss efforts and predictors of weight loss among African Americans recently identified with prediabetes or early diabetes
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary analysis was conducted on data collected from 89 participants who completed a previously published 12-week randomized placebo-controlled trial testing the benefit of vitamin D supplementation on blood measures predictive of diabetes risk. Information about care seeking, weight loss strategies and weight loss effort was collected by questionnaire at three data collection visits. Weight was measured by trained staff at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the participants saw a healthcare provider during the study, but few recalled receiving advice about diet, physical activity or other strategies for weight loss. Thirty-seven % of participants maintained their weight within 1 kg of their baseline weight. Of the remaining participants, half gained >1 kg and half lost >1 kg during the study period. Age-adjusted independent predictors of weight loss included a visit to a healthcare provider for preventive care, dietary restrictions, and consistent weight loss effort. Vitamin D supplementation had no effect on weight change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reinforces the importance of preventive healthcare and sustainable changes in diet and physical activity. It also suggests that physicians need better tools for motivating and supporting their patients to adopt behaviors that can reduce diabetes risk. For the millions of Americans who are trying to lose weight to reduce their risk for chronic disease, this study reinforces the importance of sustained effort.
authors.affiliation: United States of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Electronic address: susan.harris@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Electronic address: anna.chew@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chew
keywords: African American; diabetes; healthcare providers; vitamin D; weight loss