Weight loss and African-American women: a systematic review of the behavioural weight loss intervention literature

Authors: FITZGIBBON, MARIAN - University Of Illinois; Tussing Humphreys, Lisa; PORTER, JERLYM - Northwestern University; MARTIN, IMAN - University Of Illinois; ODOMS-YOUNG, ANGELA - University Of Illinois; SHARP, LISA - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Obesity Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Fitzgibbon, M., Tussing Humphreys, L.M., Porter, J., Martin, I., Odoms-Young, A., Sharp, L. 2012. Weight loss and African-American women: a systematic review of the behavioural weight loss intervention literature. Obesity Reviews. 13(3):193-213. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00945.x.

Interpretive Summary: Obesity is highest among U.S. black women. The weight loss intervention literature often does not report results by ethnic group or gender; therefore, the purpose of this article was to conduct a thorough review of all weight loss intervention trials published between 1990 and 2010 that reported results for black women. The criteria for including a research article was: 1) participants age =18 years, 2) a weight loss intervention, 3) weight must be measured at the beginning and end of the intervention, 4) inclusion of black women, and 5) weight loss results reported separately by ethnicity and gender. The literature search identified 25 studies that met inclusion criteria. Overall, our findings do not suggest any consistent participant or intervention characteristics that influence weight loss outcomes in black women. Modest weight loss was shown in most studies that included only black women, and in studies with men and women of varied ethnicity; black women consistently lost less weight than men and women from other ethnic groups. This review demonstrates the difficulty in developing weight loss interventions for black women. Future research should focus on defining the relationship between culture and weight control behaviors in black women. Future culturally focused research must also be linked with environmental and policy interventions that address inequalities among black women that can affect weight and health outcomes.

Technical Abstract: The excess burden of obesity among black women is well-documented. The weight loss intervention literature often does not report results by ethnic group or gender; therefore, the purpose of this article was to conduct a systematic review of all weight loss intervention trials published between 1990 and 2010 that reported results for black women. The search strategy for this article involved several stages. The criteria for inclusion included: 1) participants age =18 years, 2) a weight loss intervention, 3) weight as an outcome variable, 4) inclusion of black women, and 5) weight loss results reported separately by ethnicity and gender. The literature search identified 25 studies that met inclusion criteria. Overall, our findings do not suggest any consistent participant or intervention characteristics that influence outcomes. Modest weight loss was shown in most studies that included only black women, and in studies with more diverse samples; black women consistently lost less weight than other subgroups. This review demonstrates the complexity inherent in developing weight loss interventions for black women. Future research should strive to delineate the juxtaposition between culture and weight control behaviors. This culturally focused research must also be linked with environmental and policy interventions that address inequalities that can affect weight and health outcomes.