EFFECTIVENESS OF A BEHAVIORAL WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM FOR BLACKS AND WHITES WITH NIDDM

OBJECTIVE - To compare the weight losses of black and white patients w ith NIDDM treated in a year-long behavioral weight loss program. RESEA RCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Subjects were randomly assigned to a behavior al program that either used a low-calorie diet throughout or included two 12-week periods of a very-low-calorie diet (VLCD). Weight, dietary intake, and exercise were measured at 0, 6, and 12 months of treatmen t, and attendance and self-monitoring records were assessed weekly thr oughout the year. RESULTS - Blacks had smaller weight losses than whit es regardless of treatment condition. Overall weight losses (baseline to 1 year) were 7.1 kg in blacks vs. 13.9 kg in whites. The difference s in overall outcome resulted primarily from greater weight regain in blacks during months 6-12 than in whites. There was a trend for blacks to have poorer attendance than whites during the latter half of the p rogram and for blacks to report smaller changes in calorie intake from baseline to 6 months. CONCLUSIONS - The results confirm prior studies with nondiabetic patients showing smaller weight losses in blacks tha n in whites and suggest that these differences may result primarily fr om faster weight regain in blacks. Further research is needed to more carefully examine the variables that may explain this difference and t o develop more effective programs for blacks with NIDDM.