Carson T L, Eddings K E, Krukowski R A, Love S J, Harvey-Berino J R, West D S
Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
J Obes. 2013;2013:480630. doi: 10.1155/2013/480630. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
Research suggests that social networks, social support, and social influence are associated with weight trajectories among treatment- and non-treatment-seeking individuals. This study examined the impact of having a social contact who participated in the same group behavioral weight-control intervention in the absence of specific social support training on women engaged in a weight-loss program. Participants (n = 92; 100% female; 54% black; mean age: 46 ± 10 years; mean BMI: 38 ± 6) were grouped based upon whether or not they reported a social contact enrolled previously/concurrently in our behavioral weight-control studies. Primary outcomes were 6-month weight change and treatment adherence (session attendance and self-monitoring). Half of the participants (53%) indicated that they had a social contact; black women were more likely to report a social contact than white women (67.3% versus 39.5%; P < 0.01). Among participants with a social contact, 67% reported at least one contact as instrumental in the decision to enroll in the program. Those with a contact lost more weight (5.9 versus 3.7 kg; P = 0.04), attended more group sessions (74% versus 54%; P < 0.01), and submitted more self-monitoring journals (69% versus 54%; P = 0.01) than those without a contact. Participants' weight change was inversely associated with social contacts' weight change (P = 0.04). There was no association between participant and contact's group attendance or self-monitoring. Social networks may be a promising vehicle for recruiting and engaging women in a behavioral weight-loss program, particularly black women. The role of a natural social contact deserves further investigation.
研究表明，社交网络、社会支持和社会影响与寻求治疗和未寻求治疗的个体的体重变化轨迹有关。本研究考察了在没有特定社会支持训练的情况下，有参与相同团体行为体重控制干预的社会联系人对参加减肥计划的女性的影响。参与者（n = 92；100%为女性；54%为黑人；平均年龄：46±10岁；平均BMI：38±6）根据是否报告有之前/同时参与我们行为体重控制研究的社会联系人进行分组。主要结果是6个月的体重变化和治疗依从性（课程出席率和自我监测）。一半的参与者（53%）表示他们有社会联系人；黑人女性比白人女性更有可能报告有社会联系人（67.3%对39.5%；P < 0.01）。在有社会联系人的参与者中，67%报告至少有一个联系人对其决定参加该计划起到了推动作用。有联系人的参与者比没有联系人的参与者体重减轻更多（5.9对3.7千克；P = 0.04），参加的团体课程更多（74%对54%；P < 0.01），提交的自我监测日记更多（69%对54%；P = 0.01）。参与者的体重变化与社会联系人的体重变化呈负相关（P = 0.04）。参与者和联系人的团体出席率或自我监测之间没有关联。社交网络可能是招募女性参与行为减肥计划，尤其是黑人女性的一个有前景的途径。自然社会联系人的作用值得进一步研究。
