Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women: Striving for a

Healthy CommunityOut, Proud, and Healthy

NORC at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Missouri – Columbia

• Project Director: Elizabeth Hair, PhD• PI: Jane McElroy, PhD• Senior Advisors– Catherine Jefcoat– Dan Kasprzyk

Project Leadership

• SAGE Metro St. Louis– NPO committed to enhance the quality of life of LGBT

elders through service, advocacy and community awareness.

• The Center Project– Grassroots NPO focused on needs of LGBTQ that provides

a safe and open space for social justice community• Optimus: The Center for Health– SGM friendly fitness center in Columbia, MO

• Lab Gym– SGM friendly fitness center in St. Louis, MO

Partner Sites

• Form advisory committee who will provide expertise throughout project– Convene at 6, 12, and 18 months of EDOC– Potential members (LB community members or allies):

• Susan Pereira, Family Physician• Carol Cox, Health educator and Health and Exercise Department faculty at Truman

State (NC MO)• Maureen “Mo” Costello, the owner of MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse• Jeanette Mott-Oxford, ED of MO Association for Social Welfare • Melinda Hemmelgarn, MS, RD, LD, “Food Sleuth” columnist• Anna Lingo, Lawyer• Geri Dickey, Director of Social Work program at Missouri Western State University

Advisory Committee

• Project Site & Enrollment– 2 sites (The Center Project & SAGE Metro St. Louis)

• Participants– Eligibility Criteria

• 40 years or older• Self-identify as lesbian or bisexual• At risk of morbidities associated with obesity (e.g. heart

disease, cancer, diabetes)• Interested in getting healthy/healthier• Medical clearance to participant• Ability to commit to study

Task 2 – Out, Proud & Healthy Fitness Project Intervention Plan

• Retention Plan– To include culturally appropriate messaging, periodic cards, reminders and incentives

• Intervention Phase: 3 arms – 5 weeks for culturally sensitive fitness education classes to orient then 16 weeks of weekly

support group meetings • Full Gym Intervention group: (10 personal health fitness sessions; 6 nutritional classes, gym membership)• Smart Pedometer Intervention group (smart pedometer)

– 16 weeks of weekly educational classes on health• Attention Control group

• Celebratory Event and periodic “gifts” to reward participation

• Sustainability Component– Workout routines, support group, website/facebook promotion

Task 2 Continued

The Full Gym Intervention group:1. Fitness-education classes (10 sessions) prior to starting the fitness program2. Evaluation of body composition, ventilator threshold, exercise metabolism, heart rate variability and VO2 max

to provide individualized information for goal setting of work-outs and diet (optimal caloric intake since resting metabolic rate will be measured); 3 measurements over a year period (Baseline, Month 4, and Month 12)

3. Support group meetings (16-one hour sessions) in groups of approximately 10 with a trained facilitator4. Membership to the gym during intervention and follow-up period5. Fitness Mentor Package of 10-sessions with a personal trainer to be used during the 4 month intervention

phase6. 6 session package with a nutritionist to be used during the 4 month intervention phase7. Weekly standardized workout routines involving resistance training, aerobic exercise, and flexibility will be

designed by a team of Optimus Personal Health Fitness Mentors8. Celebratory event at the end of the study9. $25 for Month 12 assessment to encourage participation

Intervention Phase: 3 arms

The Smart Pedometer Intervention group:1. Fitness-education classes (10 sessions) prior to starting the fitness program 2. Evaluation of body composition, ventilator threshold, exercise metabolism, heart rate varibility and VO2 max

to provide individualized information for goal setting of work-outs and diet (optimal caloric intake since resting metabolic rate will be measured); 3 measurements over a year period (Baseline, Month 4, and Month 12)

3. Support group meetings (16-one hour sessions) in groups of approximately 10 with a trained facilitator4. Given Smart Pedometer, such as Striiv, to encourage physical activity5. Celebratory event at the end of the study6. $25 for Month 12 assessment to encourage participation

Attention Control group:7. Health-education classes (16 sessions), meeting weekly8. Evaluation of body composition, ventilator threshold, exercise metabolism, heart rate varibility and VO2 max

to provide information for self-determined work-outs and diet (optimal caloric intake since resting metabolic rate will be measured); 3 measurements over a year period (Baseline,Month 4, and Month 12)

9. $25 for each assessment, for a total of $75 dollars10.Celebratory event at the end of the study

Intervention Phase: 3 arms

• Random Assignment Procedures– During ongoing rolling enrollment

• Outcomes– Primary Outcome

• Weight Goal 1: Reduction in BMI of LB women • Weight Goal 2: Reduction in the waist to hip ratio of LB women• Fitness Goal: Improved fitness in LB women

– Secondary Outcomes• Diet Goal: Increase healthy diet of LB women• Physical Activity Goal: Increase physical activity in LB women

Task 3 – Evaluation

• Impact Analysis– Compare outcomes of treatment group against control group

• Special Considerations– ITT vs. TOT analyses– Selecting Covariates– Combine data across award sites for analyses of common

measures?• Focus Groups– 2 focus groups in conjunction with celebratory event– 1 Full gym group & 1 Smart Pedometer group

Task 3 Continued

Questions/Comments

Thank you!

NORC at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Missouri – Columbia

OUT, PROUD AND HEALTHY