Healthy Weight in Lesbian and
Bisexual Women: Striving for a
Healthy Community
Out, Proud, and Healthy
NORC at the University of Chicago
University of Missouri – Columbia
Project Leadership
• Project Director: Elizabeth Hair, PhD
• PI: Jane McElroy, PhD
• Senior Advisors
– Catherine Jefcoat
– Dan Kasprzyk
Partner Sites
• 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
Advisory Committee
• 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
Task 2 – Out, Proud & Healthy Fitness Project
Intervention Plan
• 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 Continued
• 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
Intervention Phase: 3 arms
The Full Gym 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 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 facilitator
4. Membership to the gym during intervention and follow-up period
5. Fitness Mentor Package of 10-sessions with a personal trainer to be used during the 4 month intervention
phase
6. 6 session package with a nutritionist to be used during the 4 month intervention phase
7. Weekly standardized workout routines involving resistance training, aerobic exercise, and flexibility will be
designed by a team of Optimus Personal Health Fitness Mentors
8. Celebratory event at the end of the study
9. $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 facilitator
4. Given Smart Pedometer, such as Striiv, to encourage physical activity
5. Celebratory event at the end of the study
6. $25 for Month 12 assessment to encourage participation
Attention Control group:
1. Health-education classes (16 sessions), meeting weekly
2. 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)
3. $25 for each assessment, for a total of $75 dollars
4. Celebratory event at the end of the study
Task 3 – Evaluation
• 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 Continued
• 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
Questions/Comments
OUT, PROUD
AND
HEALTHY
Thank you!
NORC at the University of Chicago
University of Missouri – Columbia