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Weight‐Loss Outcomes from a Pilot Study of African Dance in Older African Americans
Author(s) -
Stillman Chelsea M.,
Donahue Patrick T.,
Williams Mihloti F.,
Callas Mariah,
Lwanga Charles,
Brown Chrisala,
Wollam Mariegold E.,
Jedrziewski M. Kathy,
Kang Chaeryon,
Erickson Kirk I.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22331
Subject(s) - dance , obesity , medicine , weight loss , african american , gerontology , culturally sensitive , physical therapy , intervention (counseling) , randomized controlled trial , population , body weight , demography , psychology , psychiatry , sociology , art , social psychology , ethnology , literature , environmental health
Objective Obesity is a risk factor for both cognitive and physical impairment in late adulthood. Though the rates of obesity are high in many groups, older African Americans are disproportionately affected. A randomized pilot intervention of African Dance was conducted with 28 African American older adults with obesity (mean age = 68.4 ± 5.1 years; mean BMI = 33.4 ± 6.2). The goal of the study was to evaluate the physiological outcomes of a culturally sensitive exercise intervention and specifically changes in weight. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to an African Dance (experimental) or Culture Education (control) group. They attended their assigned class for 1 hour per session, 3 days per week, for 6 months. Results There was a significant group × time interaction on weight ( P = 0.005) such that the African Dance group lost weight (mean = 4.0 ± 6.0 lb) while the Culture Education group gained weight (mean = 2.6 ± 3.9 lb). Conclusions These results suggest that a culturally sensitive form of physical activity, African Dance, may be effective for promoting weight loss in a population at increased risk for obesity and cognitive decline.