Background
Chronic inflammation is linked to poor lifestyle behaviors and a variety of chronic
diseases that are prevalent among African Americans, especially in the southeastern
U.S.
Purpose
The goal of the study was to test the effect of a community-based diet, physical activity,
and stress reduction intervention conducted in 2009–2012 on reducing serum C-reactive
protein (CRP) in overweight and obese African-American adults.
Methods
An RCT intervention was designed jointly by members of African-American churches and
academic researchers. In late 2012, regression (i.e., mixed) models were fit that
included both intention-to-treat and post hoc analyses conducted to identify important
predictors of intervention success. Outcomes were assessed at 3 months and 1 year.
Results
At baseline, the 159 individuals who were recruited in 13 churches and had evaluable
outcome data were, on average, obese (BMI=33.1 [±7.1]) and had a mean CRP level of
3.7 (±3.9) mg/L. Reductions were observed in waist-to-hip ratio at 3 months (2%, p=0.03) and 1 year (5%, p<0.01). In female participants attending ≥60% of intervention classes, there was a
significant decrease in CRP at 3 months of 0.8 mg/L (p=0.05), but no change after 1 year. No differences were noted in BMI or interleukin-6.
Conclusions
In overweight/obese, but otherwise “healthy,” African-American church members with
very high baseline CRP levels, this intervention produced significant reductions in
CRP at 3 and 12 months, and in waist-to-hip ratio, which is an important anthropometric
predictor of overall risk of inflammation and downstream health effects.
Trial registration
This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01760902.
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Article Info
Footnotes
Trial registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01760902.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
