Focused Group Support

1. African-American Women

The new "SisterTalk" cable TV-delivered weight control program for African-American women has been researched and developed with the goals of making it "practical, appealing, and culturally sensitive." Above all, it was easily accessible for many community-based women and therefore was attractive.

Targeting African-American women for tele-obesity efforts is a worthwhile step, as they are disproportionately affected by overweight and obese conditions in the U.S. and research has shown that they do not do well nor often frequent conventional weight loss group programs.

In this example, a 12-week, 1-hour-per-week informational cable television series was provided in the privacy of women's own homes (and delivered for free to them but used a Pay Per View venue to keep the program available only to the researched group. The programming was complemented by videotapes, mailed written materials, and interactive components (using an 800- toll free phone number for viewers). Each segment focused on nutrition with culturally relevant examples of eating patterns and food preparation, physical activity, and the core of it all, social support.

The researchers add that great attention was paid to scripting the series with humor and a sister-to-sister mode of information delivery. This culturally tailored program is a model that can be adapted by others planning weight control programs for the African American female community. More details are available in:

Gans, KM, Kumanyika, SK, Lovell, HJ, et al. (2003). "The development of Sister Talk: a cable TV-delivered weight control program for Black women," Preventive Medicine 37 (6): 654-667.

2. U.S. Navy Personnel Group Help, Onshore and Off

Navy (and other military) personnel fight the battle of obesity as often as civilians do. According to the authors of a recent study: "For several decades, obesity has been a major concern within the general population of the United States as well as within the unique military population. Unlike the civilian sector, frequent military deployment and relocation prohibit military personnel from participating in long-term weight loss programs."

A group-help behavioral study by these authors reported on its work with service members on land and later, via interactive videoconference modules aboard ships. This multi-means of programming allowed for continuous contact with the study's participant. The study leaders report "significant weight loss" regardless of the mobile settings for obesity care and management and follow-up is made more do-able than ever as well.

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