for Low-Income Postpartum Women: Findings and Lessons

Promoting weight loss among overweight low-income postpartum women has proven difficult. The study’s aims were to pilot-test ethnic-specific weight-loss interventions using randomized control-group designs for White/Anglo (n = 23), African American (n = 25), and Hispanic low-income postpartum women (n = 23) and draw lessons from psychosocial data and follow-up interviews. Interventions lasting 13 weeks were offered in group settings in the community. Similar to other randomized trials with low-income mothers, weight changes between intervention and control groups were nonsignificant in each ethnic group; however, changes correlated sig-nificantly with self-efficacy (Spearman r =.50) for White/Anglo women and self-efficacy (Spearman r = −.48) and perceived stress (Spearman r =.48) for African American women. In follow-up interviews, women felt inter-ventions gave a good foundation for weight loss, but program and situational factors affected participation and weight loss. Control groups (mailed inter-ventions later) were generally more pleased with their assignment than intervention groups