Systematic review of behavioural interventions with culturally adapted strategies to improve diet and weight outcomes in A frican A merican women

• Published in: Obesity reviews 2014-10, Vol.15 (S4), p.62-92
• Main Authors: Kong, A., Tussing‐Humphreys, L. M., Odoms‐Young, A. M., Stolley, M. R., Fitzgibbon, M. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1467-7881; 1467-789X
• DOI: 10.1111/obr.12203

Behavioural interventions incorporating features that are culturally salient to A frican A merican women have emerged as one approach to address the high rates of obesity in this group. Yet, the systematic evaluation of this research is lacking. This review identified culturally adapted strategies reported in behavioural interventions using a prescribed framework and examined the effectiveness of these interventions for diet and weight outcomes among A frican A merican women. Publications from 1 J anuary 1990 through 31 D ecember 2012 were retrieved from four databases, yielding 28 interventions. Seventeen of 28 studies reported significant improvements in diet and/or weight change outcomes in treatment over comparison groups. The most commonly identified strategies reported were ‘sociocultural’ (reflecting a group's values and beliefs) and ‘constituent involving’ (drawing from a group's experiences). Studies with significant findings commonly reported constituent‐involving strategies during the formative phases of the intervention. Involving constituents early on may uncover key attributes of a target group and contribute to a greater understanding of the heterogeneity that exists even within racial/ethnic groups. Available evidence does not, however, explain how culturally adapted strategies specifically influence outcomes. Greater attention to defining and measuring cultural variables and linking them to outcomes or related mediators are important next steps.