A comparative effectiveness education trial for lifestyle health behavior change in African Americans.
Obesity and excess weight are significant clinical and public health issues that disproportionately affect African Americans because of physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. We compared the effects of alternate behavioral interventions on obesity-related health behaviors. We conducted a comparative effectiveness education trial in a community-based sample of 530 adult African Americans. Outcomes variables were physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable intake. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 1-month following interventions about shared risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (integrated, INT) or CVD only (disease-specific). Significant increases were found in the proportion of participants who met PA guidelines from baseline (47.4%) to follow-up (52.4%) (P = 0.005). In the stratified analysis that were conducted to examine interaction between education and intervention group assignment, this effect was most apparent among participants who had ≤high school education and were randomized to INT (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.04, 5.00, P = 0.04). Completing the intervention was associated with a 1.78 odds of meeting PA guidelines (95% CI = 1.02, 3.10, P = 0.04). Education about risk factors for chronic disease and evidence-based strategies for health behavior change may be useful for addressing obesity-related behaviors among African Americans.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Chanita Hughes
CH
Halbert
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Scarlett
S
Bellamy
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
Vanessa
V
Briggs
National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, Philadelphia Chapter, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Ernestine
E
Delmoor
Southwest Action Coalition, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA.
Joseph
J
Purnell
Christ of Calvary Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA.
Rodney
R
Rogers
Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Benita
B
Weathers
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Jerry C
JC
Johnson
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables