Community Based Obesity Prevention Among Blacks

Long-term promotion of physical activity is necessary to achieve obesity prevention. This represents a particular challenge for our intervention design, as few studies have demonstrated positive long-term physical activity promotion outcomes among Black women. We have demonstrated the utility of pedometers among low income, ethnically diverse populations. The efficacy of pedometer utilization for the prevention of weight gain, however, hinges on long-term utilization of the devices. We hypothesize that recommendation for the step count attainment may affect individual's long-term utilization of pedometers, as well as physical activity levels and BMI.

This study is a 24-week experimental trial to examine whether intervention recommendations promote long-term adherence to a pedometer-based physical activity regimen. A two-group, block design will be used in the proposed study. Eligible women will be randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions (n=75 per condition): 1) receiving a 10,000 steps/day recommendation and 3 health education sessions or 2) receiving an adaptive recommendation and an obesity prevention intervention. The adaptive step recommendation will update participants' recommended step counts, starting at 7,000 steps/day, then 8,000 steps/day, then finally 10,000 steps/day. Participants in the adaptive recommendation group will be provided with 3 educational sessions and will be asked to report their daily progress on weight maintenance goals via text message.

Participants will be provided pedometers and will be asked to wear them every day of the 24-week trial period.

Assessments (including self-report survey and anthropometric measurements) will be conducted at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks post-baseline.