FIGHT for Life

African Americans engage in less regular physical activity, are disproportionately impacted by obesity and have diets that are low in fruit and vegetable intake compared to other Americans. It is postulated that these lifestyle characteristics contribute to their extremely high rates of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. The Families Implementing Good Health Traditions for Life (FIGHT for Life) program was developed as a community-based pilot intervention to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels by improving physical activity and dietary habits among Black families. This study utilized a three- condition, cluster-randomized design, with families as the unit of analysis. The three conditions included a control group, a motivational interviewing group (MI) which included two MI family sessions, and a transtheoretical model group (TTM) that included 4 class-based family sessions guided by the principles of transtheoretical model. A total of 36 families participated in the study. Preliminary results reveal promising behavioral changes made on the part of the participants. Parental probands significantly increased their fruit servings per week (+7.9 servings/wk; p <.01) and minutes of vigorous activity per week (+55 min/wk; p <.04). Results also included trends toward significance for minutes of walking per week (+205 min/wk; p <.06); decreases in diastolic blood pressure (-4 mm Hg; p <.09) and total cholesterol (-8 mg/dL; p <.06). Based on these initial results and post-intervention feedback; family interventions may provide an important tool for improving lifestyle behaviors among African Americans. The social support derived from family members may serve as added motivation for the behavioral change.