title: Framed, Interactive Theory-Driven Texting: Effects of Message Framing on Health Behavior Change for Weight Loss.
abstract: More approaches to support weight control are needed, especially among racial minorities who shoulder a disproportionate obesity burden. Using an approach influenced by regulatory fit theory, we conducted a 28-day, 4-arm experimental trial with 89 obese adults recruited from urban, predominantly African American churches to ascertain the efficacy of framed text messages to motivate behaviors conducive to weight loss. Participants were assigned to receive message framing that was matched versus mismatched to their motivational orientation. Results were mixed overall; however, matched texts elicited greater motivation to change eating and exercise behavior, suggesting promise in using motivational approaches to tailor messages.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, Baltimore, Maryland (Mss Cohen, Perozich, Fahle, Ezike, Cohen, and Schulte, Messrs Cho, Krishnan, Taylor, and Syed, and Dr Cheskin); Departments of Health, Behavior & Society (Ms Rajan, Drs Bowie, Storey, and Cheskin, and Mr Ahmed) and Mental Health (Dr Parisi), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Maryland Global Obesity Prevention Center at Johns Hopkins Baltimore, Maryland (Dr Cheskin); and National Institutes of Health, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Persky).
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perozich
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persky
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowie
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fahle
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Aravind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Adaora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ezike
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: Jarrett
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: Rafay Syed
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cheskin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*