141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

289109
Factors associated with weight loss pilot program among middle-aged and older minority adults with obesity or diabetes

Sunday, November 3, 2013

SangNam Ahn, PhD, MPSA , Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN
Joonhyung Lee, Ph.D. , Fogelman College of Business & Economics, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Jenny Bartlett-Prescott, M.S. , Medical Center, Church Health Center of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Matthew Lee Smith, PhD, MPH, CHES , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, The University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Athens, GA
Marcia Ory, PhD, MPH , Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M HSC School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Background. The prevalence of obesity and diabetes is rapidly increasing. Although a variety of efforts exist to ameliorate these dual epidemics, few studies specifically target low-income minority patients.

Methods. This study examines the ability of a tailored health promotion program at a faith-based wellness center to improve body mass index (BMI) and HbA1c among low-income, uninsured, primarily minority patients with obesity and diabetes. Only middle-aged and older patients referred from local hospitals were included in these analyses (n=109, mean age=53.7 years [±6.5]). Interventions included health coach visit, dietician consult, and exercise consult. Biometric and health status measurements were collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Paired t-tests were performed to identify changes in key biometric and health measures from baseline to last observation. Ordinary least squares regression was used to identify covariates of improved BMI and HbA1c.

Results. Approximately 82% of participants were African American, and the sample's mean annual income was $14,792. On average, patients received 35 intervention elements (i.e., health coach visit=16; dietitian consult=11; exercise consult=8) and showed significant reduction in BMI (from 37.1kg/m2 to 36.5 kg/m2) and HbA1c (from 8.8% to 7.9%) from baseline to last observation. Significant improvements were observed for diabetes knowledge, perceived health, and anxiety. Regression analysis suggests that each additional dietitian consult decreased BMI and HbA1c by 0.17% and 0.41%, respectively.

Conclusion. Findings indicate the need for multi-factorial tailored dietary programs, including dietician consult, to combat the dual epidemic of obesity and diabetes among low-income middle-aged and older minority patients.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain how study interventions improved key biometrics and health status indicators among low-income middle-aged and older participants. Identify factors that contributed to changes in BMI and HbA1c among intervention participants. Describe policy implications of this pilot weight management program for low-income middle-aged and older adults.

Keywords: Obesity, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have studied in obesity issues among older adults by generating more than 20 quality peer review journal articles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.