African Americans in Standard Behavioral Treatment for Obesity, 2001-2015: What Have We Learned?

This was not a systematic review, so study selection could be biased. Only 10 of 23 trials reported outcomes by race or considered race in analysis, so the review cannot fully describe African American participants' experience. Several trials did not report racial distribution or reported only White and non-White, so some race data are incomplete. Included trials differed in diet prescription, physical activity, and group or individual sessions, so findings cannot be pooled into one treatment effect. Trials shorter than 16 weeks were excluded, so some pilot or feasibility studies that reported race outcomes may be missing. The review excluded people with major co-morbidities such as diabetes, cancer, or osteoarthritis, so results may not apply to patients with those conditions. Socioeconomic status was not considered, so racial differences may be mixed with income or access factors.

Do not conclude that telephone calls or culturally tailored support have been shown to equalize weight loss for African American patients. The review reports trial observations and author suggestions; it did not test these components, and at 18 months ORBIT showed no significant difference between intervention and control.