Author: Delia Louise Sudler

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13:

Compared to other racial-ethnic groups, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by the obesity epidemic, with this population presenting the highest rates of obesity. Additionally, behavioral weight loss interventions produce significantly lower weight losses among African American participants (Cox et al., 2013). The current study collected qualitative data from African American participants who completed a clinical trial, Project ENACT, which compared standard and acceptance-based behavioral weight loss treatments (Butryn et al., 2017). Focus groups were utilized to address three main aims: 1) identify the emotional, mental and environmental influences that African American participants perceived to be most important for their weight control; 2) identify the extent to which African American participants identify unique racial-ethnic and cultural factors as influences on their weight control; 3) explore how perceived treatment value, effectiveness and areas for improvement may differ in participants who did versus those who did not receive acceptance-based skills training. Four focus groups were conducted with African American men and women (n =24) who had completed the ENACT program. Major themes from participant responses map onto the following categories: universal barriers to health; general facilitation to health; barriers to healthy living related to the African American experience; suggestions for treatment improvement; and treatment facilitation. Results from this study could inform future weight loss intervention development and education by uncovering weight loss barriers tied to the unique cultural and emotional experiences of African Americans attempting to lose weight, while also ascertaining how acceptance-based treatments might address these unique barriers.