TY - JOUR
T1 - A group randomized trial to reduce obesity among appalachian church members
T2 - The walk by faith study
AU - Paskett, Electra D.
AU - Baltic, Ryan D.
AU - Syoung, Gregory
AU - Katz, Mira L.
AU - Lesko, Samuel M.
AU - Hwebber, Kelly
AU - Roberto, Karen A.
AU - Lengerich, Eugene J.
AU - Schoenberg, Nancy E.
AU - Kennedy, Stephenie K.
AU - Mama, Scherezade
AU - Midkiff, Courtney C.
AU - Dignan, Mark B.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by grant U54 CA153604 from the NIH and a Pelotonia Idea Grant. This study was also supported by the NCI grant P30 CA016058, The Behavioral Measurement Shared Resource at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The project was also supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through Grant Award Number UL1TR002733.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Association for Cancer Research.
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - Background: Appalachia is a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged region with high rates of cancer and obesity. Using community-based participatory research principles, the Appalachia Community Cancer Network tested an initiative to reduce weight among overweight and obese participants by partnering with churches, an important community-based institution in Appalachia. Methods: A group randomized trial was conducted with counties or groups of counties in five Appalachian states. These groups were randomly assigned to receive either monthly diet and exercise education sessions ("Walk by Faith"; WbF) or an educational program focused on cancer screening and education ("Ribbons of Faith"; RoF) to examine effects on weight change. Participants completed questionnaires and biometric measurements at baseline and 12 months. The primary outcome of the study was weight change from baseline to 12 months. Results: The relative difference in weight loss from baseline to 12 months for WbF compared with RoF was 1.4% but was not statistically significant (P = 0.13). However, results varied by sex and marital status. WbF men experienced a significant 2.8% decrease in body weight, married WbF women a 1.5% decrease, and unmarried WbF women a 1.5% increase compared with their respective RoF subgroups (interaction P = 0.016). Among WbF participants, greater participation in monthly educational sessions was associated with greater weight loss (P = 0.002). Conclusions: WbF facilitated weight loss mainly in male participants. Level of participation in WbF activities correlated with weight loss. Impact: Findings suggest that additional research is needed to better understand factors associated with participation in health promotion programs for underserved rural communities.
AB - Background: Appalachia is a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged region with high rates of cancer and obesity. Using community-based participatory research principles, the Appalachia Community Cancer Network tested an initiative to reduce weight among overweight and obese participants by partnering with churches, an important community-based institution in Appalachia. Methods: A group randomized trial was conducted with counties or groups of counties in five Appalachian states. These groups were randomly assigned to receive either monthly diet and exercise education sessions ("Walk by Faith"; WbF) or an educational program focused on cancer screening and education ("Ribbons of Faith"; RoF) to examine effects on weight change. Participants completed questionnaires and biometric measurements at baseline and 12 months. The primary outcome of the study was weight change from baseline to 12 months. Results: The relative difference in weight loss from baseline to 12 months for WbF compared with RoF was 1.4% but was not statistically significant (P = 0.13). However, results varied by sex and marital status. WbF men experienced a significant 2.8% decrease in body weight, married WbF women a 1.5% decrease, and unmarried WbF women a 1.5% increase compared with their respective RoF subgroups (interaction P = 0.016). Among WbF participants, greater participation in monthly educational sessions was associated with greater weight loss (P = 0.002). Conclusions: WbF facilitated weight loss mainly in male participants. Level of participation in WbF activities correlated with weight loss. Impact: Findings suggest that additional research is needed to better understand factors associated with participation in health promotion programs for underserved rural communities.
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U2 - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-1085
DO - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-1085
M3 - Article
C2 - 30337343
AN - SCOPUS:85055906354
SN - 1055-9965
VL - 27
SP - 1289
EP - 1297
JO - Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
JF - Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
IS - 11
ER -