Abstract
Shaping network members into sources of support for healthy eating and exercise behaviors
may be an effective strategy to enhance obesity treatment outcomes. This pilot study
examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral weight loss intervention
adapted for Latinas with a social network component. Twenty-seven Latinas (43.0±10.2
years and body mass index 36.9±5.7) participated in a 24-week randomized controlled
intervention study. Participants attended group-based treatment either individually
(Individual Lifestyle Group [ILG]) or with a weight loss partner selected from their
existing network (Partner Lifestyle Group [PLG]). Repeated measures analysis of variance
was conducted to compare ILG and PLG participants on changes in weight or psychosocial
variables. Participants in both intervention groups attended 70% of treatment sessions;
96% and 100% completed assessment at post-treatment (12 weeks) and follow-up (24 weeks),
respectively. Significant weight loss (P<0.01) was achieved at post-treatment (ILG −4.7±4.2 kg and PLG −4.3±4.4 kg) and follow-up
(ILG −5.0±6.4 kg and PLG −4.7±5.0 kg), with nearly 50% of participants losing at least
5% of initial body weight. Both groups also experienced increased self-efficacy for
weight loss (P<0.01), self-efficacy for exercise (P=0.02), and family social support for exercise habits (P=0.01). There were no significant differences between groups. Results from this study
suggest a behavioral weight loss intervention for Latinas is feasible, but there is
less support for the efficacy of weight loss partners.
Keywords
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Biography
B. Marquez is an assistant professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Biography
R. R. Wing is a professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital/Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence, RI.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 13, 2013
Accepted:
January 14,
2013
Available online 13 March 2013Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was funded by the Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center at The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, and National Institutes of Health, Postdoctoral Fellowship (T32HL07613405).
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
