TOSS Feasibility + Fitbit Community = Reduced Obesity in Older Black Women

TOSS Feasibility + Fitbit Community = Reduced Obesity in Older Black Women

The primary goal of this proposed physical activity (PA) intervention is to develop a realistic and an economical intervention to promote regular PA among older, overweight or obese Black women. Physical inactivity is prevalent among older Black women and this lifestyle behavior is both a destructive and expensive public health issue. Because many in this population do not engage in sufficient amounts of regular PA, this group miss the cardio-protective effects that may reduce many chronic conditions that disproportionately affect Blacks such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The proposed obesity-reduction intervention is aligned with Stage 1 of the National Institute on Aging Stage Model for Behaviors Interventions Development. For the proposed hypothesis, the investigators propose a 2-group randomized controlled pilot, feasibility study in which 30 women will be randomized to receive either the TOSS PA Text messages Plus Fitbit community or the Control group and followed for 12 weeks to detect intervention effect.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Black women
• 60 years and older
• Have a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2
• Do not meet the weekly 150 minutes of physical activity (PA)
• No health conditions that would prevent or limit PA or walking
• Able to read text messages
• Access to a mobile phone with text receiving capability
• Mobile phone with ability to download a Fitbit app.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently participating in another PA promotion program
• Non-English speaking
• A contraindication to exercise as indicated by the PA Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) unless written permission was provided from the participant's primary care provider.