Abstract
Background: Few intervention studies have integrated cultural tailoring, parenting, behavioral, and motivational strategies to address African American adolescent weight loss. Purpose: The Families Improving Together (FIT) for Weight Loss trial was a randomized group cohort study testing the efficacy of a cultural tailoring, positive parenting, and motivational intervention for weight loss in overweight African American adolescents (N = 241 adolescent/caregiver dyads). Methods: The trial tested an 8-week face-to-face group motivational plus family weight loss program (M + FWL) compared with a comprehensive health education control program. Participants were then rerandomized to an 8-week tailored or control online program to test the added effects of the online intervention on reducing body mass index and improving physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA], light physical activity [LPA]), and diet. Results: There were no significant intervention effects for body mass index or diet. There was a significant effect of the group M + FWL intervention on parent LPA at 16 weeks (B = 33.017, SE = 13.115, p =. 012). Parents in the group M + FWL intervention showed an increase in LPA, whereas parents in the comprehensive health education group showed a decrease in LPA. Secondary analyses using complier average causal effects showed a significant intervention effect at 16 weeks for parents on MVPA and a similar trend for adolescents. Conclusions: While the intervention showed some impact on physical activity, additional strategies are needed to impact weight loss among overweight African American adolescents.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1042-1055 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Annals of Behavioral Medicine |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescents
- African American
- Diet
- Family intervention
- Physical activity
- Weight loss
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine