Weight Loss in a Predominantly African American Patient Cohort in JeffWLP, the Jefferson Weight Loss Program

Start Date

5-15-2025 9:30 AM

5-15-2025 11:30 AM

Introduction and Objectives

Minority groups, particularly African Americans (AAs), are disproportionately affected by obesity^{1, 5}
Available diet programs and nutrition classes are assumed to be constructed for majority groups^{1, 2}
- Research and clinical care includes fewer AA patients³
- AAs may respond differently to the widely used conventional nutrition education¹
Motivational interviewing (MI) is uniformly effective across diverse populations and empowers individual patients to initiate behavioral changes, especially in weight loss interventions^{3, 4}
Our goal is to better support underserved communities, such as within the Philadelphia area, to provide further investigation involving diverse and marginalized communities, such as African Americans
Since approximately 40% of the US population is comprised of minorities and 12% AAs5, developing an effective weight loss program that specifically addresses the wants and needs of AAs could significantly advance public health by reducing obesity rates and associated complications in America^{1, 2, 3}

health equity, quality improvment, weight loss, minority group

Presented at the 2025 Jefferson Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit.

COinS

May 15th, 9:30 AM May 15th, 11:30 AM

Weight Loss in a Predominantly African American Patient Cohort in JeffWLP, the Jefferson Weight Loss Program

Introduction and Objectives

Minority groups, particularly African Americans (AAs), are disproportionately affected by obesity^{1, 5}
Available diet programs and nutrition classes are assumed to be constructed for majority groups^{1, 2}
- Research and clinical care includes fewer AA patients³
- AAs may respond differently to the widely used conventional nutrition education¹
Motivational interviewing (MI) is uniformly effective across diverse populations and empowers individual patients to initiate behavioral changes, especially in weight loss interventions^{3, 4}
Our goal is to better support underserved communities, such as within the Philadelphia area, to provide further investigation involving diverse and marginalized communities, such as African Americans
Since approximately 40% of the US population is comprised of minorities and 12% AAs5, developing an effective weight loss program that specifically addresses the wants and needs of AAs could significantly advance public health by reducing obesity rates and associated complications in America^{1, 2, 3}