Investigating the Effects of the "GameDay Ready" Behavioral Weight Management Program for Black Men Living in the Rural South

University of South Carolina30 enrolled

Overview

This pilot study investigates the effects of a newly developed 12-week weight management program called "GameDay Ready" (compared to a walking and general health education program) for decreasing body weight among Black men who live in the rural South. The researchers expect to see evidence of greater weight loss among participants randomized to receive the "GameDay Ready" program.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity

Interventions

GameDay ReadyBEHAVIORAL

GameDay Ready is a 12-week, group-based behavioral weight management program in which participants will meet in-person once per week at a publicly accessible walking track. The GameDay Ready program promotes increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and improving dietary habits through education, behavioral self-monitoring, and goal setting. Each 60-minute intervention session includes a brief educational component followed by a group discussion of weekly progress. Following a short warmup walk, participants engage in group-based competitive physical activities and then a short cooldown walk. Participants then set individual and group-based goals for the upcoming week and discuss strategies for overcoming barriers to achieving goals. The program is sensitive to intersectional influences of gender, race, and rurality on health; and strategies to enhance motivation are threaded throughout the program.

Walking and General Health EducationBEHAVIORAL

Participants receiving the comparison program will complete a 12-week walking and general health education program. Group sessions meet once per week at a publicly accessible walking track, and each 60-minute session consists of a brief educational component on a health topic followed by walking and socializing during the remainder of the session.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 25 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identified African American or Black American male * 25-65 years of age * BMI 27kg/m2 to ≤50kg/m2 (those with a BMI \>45 will need documented approval by a healthcare provider to participate in the study) * Live in a rural area of South Carolina and have lived in a rural area for at least 1 year * Able to speak and understand English * Willing to be randomized to the intervention or comparison program Exclusion Criteria: * Positive response to any question on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) (Participant may be included if approval is provided and documented by a healthcare provider) * Currently participating in another weight loss trial or program or have participated in a trial or program within 6 months prior to starting the intervention * Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg), diabetes, or asthma (Participant may be included if approval is provided and documented by a healthcare provider) * Pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen or daily use of short-acting bronchodilators * Any musculoskeletal condition that would preclude meeting recommended levels of moderate-to- vigorous physical activity * Within 30 days prior to participating in the study, have taken prescription or nonprescription medications, herbals, or supplements for weight loss * On special diet for a serious health condition (does not include general dietary advice from a healthcare provider for common risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia). * Major surgery in the past 6 months * Have undergone weight loss surgery or considering weight loss surgery within the next 6 months * Have been treated for cancer in the past 12 months (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) * Weight loss ≥5% during the past 6 months * Plans to move to another county in the next 6 months * Any other perceived physical or mental health-related condition that would preclude participating in a behavioral program designed to promote weight loss

Locations (1)

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Body weight

Participants' body weight will be measured in pounds using a portable, professional-grade scale. Changes in body weight will be compared between the intervention and comparison programs.