Rationale and design of a race-conscious, school-linked, pilot randomized controlled trial to improve physical activity and dietary behaviors of Black adolescent daughter/mother dyads

Background

Black adolescent females are at increased risk for obesity-related morbidity and mortality as adults compared to non-Hispanic White adolescent females. Few interventions to prevent obesity in Black adolescent females have leveraged the relationship of the daughter/mother dyad. Studies that include mothers tend to use theoretical frameworks that do not explicitly build on this important relationship and have not included mothers' active participation. Additionally, these studies do not include girls older than 12 years. In response, we developed Black Girls Move, a school-linked obesity prevention intervention that addresses these limitations in the extant literature.

Method

This pilot randomized controlled trial examines the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of Black Girls Move (BGM), a 12-week obesity prevention intervention. Within four schools, 96 dyads will be randomized to either BGM or daughters-only comparison condition (DOCC) (12 per condition). All daughter/mother dyads (BGM and DOCC) complete self-report measures (i.e., PA, diet, family theoretical measures, racial identity, daughter/mother relationship, social cognitions) at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention. BGM incorporates content and processes derived from Public Health Critical Race Praxis, Family Systems Theory, and Social Cognitive Theory. Specific aims are to determine the feasibility of BGM compared to DOCC on change in PA and dietary intake, and the impact of BGM compared to daughters-only on racial identity, daughter/mother relationship, and social cognitions.

Implications

Our long-term goal is to decrease disparities in obesity and associated co-morbidities in Black women. The findings may inform a Phase III efficacy trial of BGM in Black daughter/mother dyads.