Table 2.

Selected intervention strategies providing significant increases in physical activity

Intervention strategy
Theory-Based	Included Social Cognitive Theory concepts - Intervention group received six, one-hour toolbox classes (one session/week) focusing on fruit/vegetable consumption and physical activity30 8 week community-based walking program (75 minute sessions at community center in evening and church around noon) based on the Health Belief Model Sessions included didactic, interactive, and small group processes35
Culturally Tailored	24 week intervention (12 weeks per phase) - Sessions included 1 hour of physical activity and 1 ½ hour nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and social support – Culturally tailored intervention included ethnically matched program staff, peer leaders/health coordinators recruited from each church, and the intervention was held in a church setting43 6 month weight loss program focused on nutrition and physical activity; weekly group meetings and supervised exercise sessions at a local community center – Culturally tailored intervention included: participants chose the location and format of exercise sessions, participants chose the content of group meetings, ethnically matched program staff, social support, and group participants shared low-fat meals prepared by participants (participants also discussed how they reduced fat content for each meal)44
Theory-Based & Culturally Tailored	Culture and gender specific intervention based on TTM, SCT, and the PEN model. Facilitators led small groups that met for 90 minutes weekly for 10 weeks. Majority of facilitators were African American women. Goals were set related to nutrition, physical activity, and stress management. Participants received a textbook and curriculum workbook. Comparison group received a copy of the textbook provided to the intervention group. Diabetes intervention program “New Life….Choices for Healthy Living with Diabetes” focused on nutrition, physical activity, and self-care behaviors and based on the Transtheoretical Model and Social Cognitive Theory. Clinic-based intervention consisted of four clinic visits. Community-based intervention consisted of 12 telephone contacts with a community diabetes advisor and three group sessions. Three groups (group A, B, and C) : Group A – clinic and community-based, group B-clinic intervention only, and group C – minimal intervention (were mailed pamphlets published by American Diabetes Association) African American women with type II diabetes participated in focus groups to evaluate cultural aspects of the program19 Theory-based (SCT) nutrition and physical activity behavior intervention included individual counseling session followed by 8, 90 minute group sessions. Telephone counseling contacts continued through 36 weeks gestation. Post-partum: participants received home visit and up to three counseling calls. Culturally tailored - Group sessions co-led by African American research staff member Culturally tailored, theory based (TTM & SCT) intervention included telephone calls and printed materials that addressed topics of concern for African American women. Intervention also included 12 motivational, stage matched ethnically tailored newsletters and up to 14 calls over 1 year20 Healthy lifestyle focusing on nutrition and physical activity (intervention was adapted from the “New Life….Choices for Healthy Living with Diabetes”19 5 week healthy lifestyle intervention included 4 group and 1 individual session21 Theory-based (SEM), culturally tailored nutrition and physical activity intervention included 8 weekly 2 hour sessions with ethnically matched community role models as guest instructors. Intervention also included skills training in a balanced regular exercise regimen, nutrition education focusing on a low-fat, complex carbohydrate-rich diet, social support, and incentives. Participants received a one-year free gym membership and were able to invite one family member or friend to receive a one-year free membership as well (social support). Incentives included pedometers and exercise bands 23