Exploring strategies and structural preferences for an obesity prevention intervention with African American daughter/mother dyads

Introduction: African American (AA) adolescent girls and women have the highest reported rates of overweight and obesity in the nation. Middle adolescence, ages 12-17, is an important developmental period during which many future health behaviors are established.

Research suggests that parental involvement in obesity-related interventions is associated with healthy weight in young children, and that joint participation in comprehensive behavior change programs improves weight outcomes for both parents and children. However, there are no known obesity-prevention studies that include middle adolescent AA daughters and a parent. The purpose of this study is to obtain an understanding, from the perspective of AA middle adolescent daughter/ mother dyads, of appropriate strategies and structure for an obesity prevention intervention.

Methods:  Five focus groups will be held in April 2015 with freshman and sophomore AA daughters and their mothers (6 dyads per focus group) recruited from one predominantly minority Chicago Public High School.  A semi-structured interview guide will be used to facilitate discussions related to the acceptability of theory-based strategies generated by social cognitive theory (i.e. behavioral capability and behavioral rehearsal) and family systems theory (i.e. communication, problem solving, role modeling). Additional strategies will be elicited. The discussions will be audiotaped, transcribed and examined for themes.

Results: Results from these focus groups will inform the development of a culturally appropriate intervention.

Conclusion:  A culturally and contextually relevant obesity-prevention intervention developed with the guidance of AA adolescent daughter/ mother dyads should be appealing and facilitate participant engagement.