A PILOT CHURCH-BASED WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULTS UTILIZING CHURCH MEMBERS AS HEALTH EDUCATORS: A COMPARISON OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERVENTION

Authors: KENNEDY, BETTY - DELTA NIRI; PAERATAKUL, SAHASPORN - DELTA NIRI; CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - DELTA NIRI; RYAN, DONNA - DELTA NIRI; HARSHA, DAVID - DELTA NIRI; MCGEE, BERNESTINE - DELTA NIRI; JOHNSON, GLENDA - DELTA NIRI; DEYHIM, FARZAD - TEXAS A&M UNIV; FORSYTHE, WILLIAM - EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY; Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Ethnicity and Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2004
Publication Date: 8/1/2005
Citation: Kennedy, B.M., Paeratakul, S., Champagne, C., Ryan, D.H., Harsha, D.W., McGee, B., Johnson, G., Deyhim, F., Forsythe, W., Bogle, M.L. 2005. A pilot church-based weight loss program for African American adults utilizing church members as health educators: A comparison of individual and group intervention. Ethnicity and Disease. 15(3):373-378.

Interpretive Summary: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S. in 1999 was estimated at 35 and 27%, respectively. The prevalence is particularly high among racial and ethnic minority populations; 66% of African American women were either overweight or obese compared to 45% in white women. It has been reported that successful weight loss and weight loss maintenance requires a multimodal strategy to be followed by the behavioral changes that should be continued indefinitely. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a peer-educator delivered weight loss program and compared the effectiveness of two program delivery methods: an intervention in the individual setting and an intervention in the group setting. Forty overweight or obese adult individuals (37 women and 3 men) participated in the study. All participants were members of an African American church in Baton Rouge, LA. After six months of intervention, there was a modest but significant weight loss by all participants, regardless if they were in the individual or group setting. Results from this study suggest that the church may provide an effective delivery mechanism for a weight loss program, and that such a program may be conducted by trained church members. Results of the current study also suggest that the intervention delivered in the group setting may be as effective as that delivered in the individual setting. Results of the current study will be beneficial to investigators and public health workers.

Technical Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine a church-based intervention employing a 6-month pilot weight loss program as a strategy to improve health of African American adults. Design: A randomized trial design was used without a control group. Eligible church members were randomized into 2 groups: the intervention delivered in the group setting and the intervention delivered in the individual setting. Setting: The study was conducted at an African American church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Participants: Forty church members were enrolled in the study. Two trained church members without specialization in obesity treatment conducted the study. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was weight loss. Results: The program retention rate was 90%. After 6 months, there was a modest but significant mean weight loss in all subjects of 3.3 kg. The mean weight loss in the individual and group interventions was 3.4 kg and 3.1 kg, respectively. The mean body fat loss was 2.1 kg and 1.9 kg, respectively. The difference in weight loss and fat loss between the individual and group interventions was not statistically significant. An improvement in the quality of life and an increase in physical activity was reported by the program participants. Conclusions: A church setting may provide an effective delivery mechanism for a health and nutrition program. Church members may be trained to conduct a weight control program. Both the group and the individual interventions were effective in inducing weight loss.