Social network characteristics associated with weight loss among black and hispanic adults.

Objective: To examine social network member characteristics associated with weight loss.

Methods: A cross-sectional examination included egocentric network data from 245 Black and Hispanic adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) enrolled in a small change weight loss study. The relationships between weight loss at 12 months and characteristics of helpful and harmful network members (relationship, contact frequency, living proximity, and body size) were examined.

Knowledge of the health consequences of obesity among overweight/obese Black and Hispanic adults.

Objective: To measure knowledge of the health consequences of obesity among overweight/obese Black and Hispanic adults and examine the relationship to prior weight loss.

Methods: Knowledge of the health consequences of obesity was assessed among 410 Black and Hispanic adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 enrolled in a behavior change weight loss study. The relationship between obesity risk knowledge and previous weight loss was also examined.

Developing self-management education in coronary artery disease.

We describe a three-step approach to develop and evaluate a novel coronary artery disease (CAD) self-management educational workbook. First, we conducted interviews using grounded theory methods with a diverse CAD cohort (n = 61) to identify needs and perceptions. Second, we developed the workbook, incorporating themes that emerged from the qualitative interviews.

Recruitment and retention techniques for developing faith-based research partnerships, New York city, 2009-2012.

Background: Faith-based organizations are recognized as an influential venue for behavioral health interventions. However, less is known about efficient approaches for identifying and recruiting these organizations and about the processes that enable successful partnership.

Community Context: In 2007, 66% of Latinos and 70% of blacks in New York City reported being overweight or obese.

Pulse pressure and subclinical cardiovascular disease in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Background: Brachial pulse pressure (PP) has been found to be associated with markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease, including carotid intima-media thickness and left-ventricular mass index (LVMI), but it is unclear whether these associations are independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and of the steady, nonpulsatile component of blood pressure (BP). Moreover, it is unknown whether these associations are modified by gender, age, or race/ethnicity.

Methods: We used multivariate linear regression models to assess the relationship between brachial PP and three markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) (common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT), internal carotid intima-media thickness (IC-IMT), and LVMI) in four race/ethnic groups in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Sex and racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease risk factor treatment and control among individuals with diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

OBJECTIVE To examine sex and racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factor treatment and control among individuals with diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study was an observational study examining mean levels of cardiovascular risk factors and proportion of subjects achieving treatment goals. RESULTS The sample included 926 individuals with diabetes.