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Motivational interviewing fails to improve outcomes of a behavioral weight loss program for obese African American women: a pilot randomized trial

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Abstract

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, African American (AA) women are more likely to be obese but less likely to participate in weight loss interventions or to successfully lose weight. Sustained motivation for weight loss may be especially difficult for AA women due to socioeconomic and cultural factors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the addition of motivational interviewing (MI) to a culturally-targeted behavioral weight loss program for AA women improved adherence to the program, diet and physical activity behaviors, and weight loss outcomes. Forty-four obese (mean BMI = 39.4, SD = 7.1) AA women were randomized to receive a 16-week behavioral weight loss program plus four MI sessions, or the same behavioral weight loss program plus four health education (HE; attention control) sessions. Results showed that participants in both MI and HE conditions lost a significant amount of weight, reduced their energy intake and percent calories from fat, and increased their fruit and vegetable consumption (ps < .05). However, adherence to the behavioral weight loss program and changes in diet, physical activity, and weight did not differ across MI and HE conditions. Future research is warranted to determine the subpopulations with which MI is most effective.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an American Cancer Society Grant (PFT 0608501). We also gratefully acknowledge Swope Health Services for their support of this project and the research assistants who contributed to the study, with special appreciation for Paula Harkins, Susan Krigel, Shelly Peterson, and Rachel Lynch.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd MS 1008, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    Christie A. Befort, Nicole Nollen, Edward F. Ellerbeck & Debra K. Sullivan

  2. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Janet L. Thomas & Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

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  1. Christie A. Befort
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  2. Nicole Nollen
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  3. Edward F. Ellerbeck
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  4. Debra K. Sullivan
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  6. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
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Correspondence to Christie A. Befort.

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Befort, C.A., Nollen, N., Ellerbeck, E.F. et al. Motivational interviewing fails to improve outcomes of a behavioral weight loss program for obese African American women: a pilot randomized trial. J Behav Med 31, 367–377 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-008-9161-8

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