Translation of a behavioral weight loss intervention for mid-life, low-income women in local health departments
Carmen D Samuel-Hodge, Beverly A Garcia, Larry F Johnston, Ziya Gizlice, Andy Ni, Jianwen Cai, Jennifer L Kraschnewski, Alison A Gustafson, Arnita F Norwood, Russell E Glasgow, Alison D Gold, John W Graham, Kelly R Evenson, Stewart Trost, Thomas C Keyserling, Carmen D Samuel-Hodge, Beverly A Garcia, Larry F Johnston, Ziya Gizlice, Andy Ni, Jianwen Cai, Jennifer L Kraschnewski, Alison A Gustafson, Arnita F Norwood, Russell E Glasgow, Alison D Gold, John W Graham, Kelly R Evenson, Stewart Trost, Thomas C Keyserling
Abstract
Objective: To translate a behavioral weight loss intervention for mid-life, low-income women in real world settings.
Design and methods: In this pragmatic clinical trial, we randomly selected six North Carolina county health departments and trained their current staff to deliver a 16-session evidence-based behavioral weight loss intervention (special intervention, SI). SI weight loss outcomes were compared to a delayed intervention (DI) control group.
Results: Of 432 women expressing interest, 189 completed baseline measures and were randomized within health departments to SI (N = 126) or DI (N = 63). At baseline, average age was 51 years, 53% were African American, mean weight was 100 kg, and BMI averaged 37 kg/m2 . A total of 96 (76%) SI and 55 (87%) DI participants returned for 5-month follow-up measures. The crude weight change was -3.1 kg in the SI and -0.4 kg in the DI group, for a difference of 2.8 kg (95% CI 1.4 to 4.1, p = 0.0001). Diet quality and physical activity improved significantly more in the SI group, and estimated intervention costs were $327 per participant.
Conclusion: This pragmatic short-term weight loss intervention targeted to low-income mid-life women yielded meaningful weight loss when translated to the county health department setting.
Copyright © 2013 The Obesity Society.
Source: PubMed