Neighborhood factors and six-month weight change among overweight individuals in a weight loss intervention.
The purpose of this study was to examine the neighborhood environment and the association with weight change among overweight/obese individuals in the first six months of a 12-month weight loss intervention, EMPOWER, from 2011 to 2015. Measures of the neighborhood environment included neighborhood racial composition, neighborhood income, and neighborhood food retail stores density (e.g., grocery stores). Weight was measured at baseline and 6 months and calculated as the percent weight change from baseline to 6 months. The analytic sample (N = 127) was 91% female and 81% white with a mean age of 51 (± 10.4) years. At 6 months, the mean weight loss was 8.0 kg (± 5.7), which was equivalent to 8.8% (± 6%) of baseline weight. Participants living in neighborhoods in which 25-75% of the residents identified as black had the greatest percentage of weight loss compared to those living in neighborhoods with < 25% or > 75% black residents. No other neighborhood measures were associated with weight loss. Future studies testing individual-level behavioral weight loss interventions need to consider the influence of neighborhood factors, and how neighborhood-level interventions could be enhanced with individual-level interventions that address behaviors and lifestyle changes.
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Dara D
DD
Mendez
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Tiffany L
TL
Gary-Webb
University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work, 2217 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.
Rachel
R
Goode
Boston College, Connell School of Nursing, 369A Maloney Hall, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States.
Yaguang
Y
Zheng
University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Christopher C
CC
Imes
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Anthony
A
Fabio
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Jessica
J
Duell
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
Lora E
LE
Burke
Environment; Intervention; Neighborhood; Obesity; Weight loss