. 2019 Sep 20;78(4):304–322. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz046

Table 1.

Descriptive information of church-based obesity-related interventions by study design (n = 43)

Reference and program name (if reported)	Sample size	Study Population Demographics					Intervention details	Delivered by	Theory	Duration/ frequency
	N = people n = church	Mean age, y	Female %	Race/ethnicity %	Education and/or income, %^c	Region
Randomized control trials
Arredondo et al (2017)⁵²; Fe en Acción	N = 436 n = 16	44.4	100	100 Latino	45.4 HS+ 58.3 <$2K (monthly)	San Diego County, CA	I: group sessions (prayer, PA classes, handouts, discussion), LHA, MI calls, mailings, simpleins/ads, LHA walkability audits and environmental projects C: cancer screening	Congregants	EM, formative research, MI	12 mo/ varied
Bopp et al (2009)⁶⁶; 8 Steps to Fitness	N = 146 n = 6	52	80	100 AA	91.4 HS+ 71 >$25K	SC	Group sessions (PA, scripture reading, discussion) pedometers, assignments, handouts	Congregants, church leaders	Formative research, SCT, TTM	2 mo/ once a week
Bowen et al (2009)²²; Eating for a Healthy Life	N = 1955 n = 40	54	85	89 W	14 ≤HS	Seattle, WA	I: volunteer advisory board, interpersonal support, mailings, motivational messages, social activities, healthy eating sessions, policy, print materials C: none	Healthy eating coordinator, congregants	MI, SLT, TTM	9 mo/ varied
Campbell et al (1999, 2000)²³ ^, ²⁴; Black Churches United for Better Health	N = 2519 n = 49	53.8	73	98 AA	67 HS 59 <$20K	NC	I: tailored simpleins, print materials, gardens, educational sessions, cookbook/ recipe tasting, FV, LHA, community coalitions, pastor support, grocer-vendor involvement, church activities C: none	Congregants	EM, SCT, SSM, TTM	20 mo/ varied
Duru et al (2010)²⁶; Sisters in Motion	N = 62 n = 3	72.8	100	100 AA	23 <HS 53 <$2K (monthly)	Los Angeles, CA	I: group sessions (scripture reading, prayer, PA goal-setting/ reinforcement, pedometer competition), PA C: group sessions (non- PA topics)	Research assistant, local fitness instructor	NR	2 mo/ once a week; 6 mo/ once a week
Kennedy et al (2005)²⁹	N = 36 n = 1	44	90.2	100 AA	NR	Baton Rouge, LA	I1: group sessions (nutrition education) I2: individual meetings (nutrition education, food diary, dietary assessment)	Congregants	NR	6 mo/ varied
Krukowski et al (2010)⁶⁷	N = 34 n = 1	48.5	71	100 W	68 college degree	South	I1: standard behavioral weight control group sessions (diabetes prevention) I2: Catholic- tailored I1	Graduate student	NR	4 mo/ once a week
McNabb et al (1997)⁵³; PATHWAYS	N = 39 n = 3	56.5	100	100 AA	13 <HS	NR	I: group sessions (tailored dietary goals, problem solving, PA promotion) C: none	Congregants	Discovery learning framework	14 wk/ once a week
Murrock et al (2010)³³	N = 97 n = 2	NR	100	100 AA	NR	Midwest	I: group sessions (dance with gospel music) C: culturally sensitive health mailings mailings	Local dance instructor	SCT	2 mo / twice a week
Resnicow et al (2001)³⁷; Eat for Life	N = 861 n = 14	43.9	73.3	100 AA^b	44 ≤HS 23 <$20K	Atlanta, GA	I1: faith-based healthy eating video, cookbook, print materials, gift cues, reminder call I2: I1, 3 MI calls C: standard materials	Registered dietitian or dietetic intern	MI, SCT	12 mo/ varied
Resnicow et al (2004)³⁸; Body and Soul	N = 854 n = 15	50.6	74.4	100 AA^b	33 ≤HS 28 <$30K	CA; GA; NC; SC; DE; VA	I: faith-based healthy eating video, cookbook, health fair, 2 MI calls, educational sessions, cooking classes, print materials, church-wide activities (3 nutrition events, 1 policy change) C: none; waitlist	Congregants	EM, MI, self- determination theory, SCT	6 mo/ NR
Resnicow et al (2005)⁴⁰; Go Girls!	N = 123 n = 10	13.6	100	100 AA^b	NR	Atlanta, GA	I: group sessions (nutrition/PA education, PA), 1-d retreat, pagers (tailored nutrition/PA messages), 4– 6 MI calls C: group sessions (nutrition/PA education)	Graduate- level counselor, dietitian, exercise physiologist, research staff	Formative research, MI, SCT	6 mo/ once a week or once a month
Resnicow et al (2005)³⁹; Healthy Body Healthy Spirit	N = 906 n = 16	46.3	76.2	100 AA^b	28.9 ≤HS 11.6 <$20K	Atlanta, GA	I1: culturally targeted materials (faith-based healthy eating video, PA video, cookbook, PA guide, gospel music) I2: I1, 4 MI calls C: standard materials (nutrition/PA education)	Graduate- level psychologist	SCT, MI	12 mo/ varied
Samuel-Hodge et al (2009)⁴¹; A New Dawn	N = 201 n = 24	59	64	98.5 AA	12.4 y (mean) 45 <$30K	NC	I: individual counseling (diet, barriers to behavioral change, psychosocial issues), group sessions (prayer, PA, PA education, recipe tasting) support calls, healthy eating/PA mailings C: standard educational pamphlets	Registered dietitian, local health professional, congregants	Adult learning theory, SCT, TTM	12 mo/ varied
Sattin et al (2016)⁵⁴; Fit Body and Soul	N = 604 n = 20	46	83.4	100 AA	50.8 college+	August a, GA	I: group sessions (spiritual messages, weight loss and behavioral modification strategies) C: health education program	Congregants	MI, SCT	12 wk/ once a week; 6 mo/ once a month
Trost et al (2009)⁴²; Shining Like Stars	N = 105 n = 4	8	51.4	23.9 AA 57.8 W	NR	KS	I: group sessions (faith-based PA curriculum), family devotional activities C: group sessions (non- PA-focused faith-based curriculum), family devotional activities	Congregants	NR	1 mo/ once a week
Webb et al (2017)⁶⁸; Walking in Faith	N = 44 n = 43	48.3	41	97.7 W	81 graduate+	PA	I: faith-based online PA curriculum C: none; waitlist	Web-based	SCT	12 wk/ once a week
Wilcox et al (2007, 2007)⁴³ ^, ⁴⁴; Health-e-AME	N = 571 n = 20	NR	68	100 AA^b	52 ≤HS 36 <$25K	SC	I: praise aerobics, chair exercises, walking, group sessions (behavior change skills, scripture, PA, handouts), PA-related sermons, print materials, PA/healthy food at church events C: none; waitlist	Pastor, congregants	EM, TTM	24–36 mo/ varied
Wilcox et al (2013)⁶⁹; Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN)	N = 1257 n = 74	54.1	75.7	99.4 AA	10.3 <HS 42.7 <30K	SC	I: church leader trainings, cooks’ training, monthly mailings (health behavior change), incentives, handouts (simplein inserts, recipes), pastor mailings, messages from the pulpit, policies/ practices, stipend C: none; waitlist	Pastor, congregants	EM, SCT	15 mo/ varied
Winett et al (2007)⁴⁵; Guide to Health	N = 1071 n = 14	53 (median)	67	23 AA	NR	South	I1: online curriculum (goals, nutrition/PA education, behavior change strategies) I2: I1, church simpleins, print materials, reminders from the pulpit C: none	Web-based	SCT	3 mo/ once a week
Yanek et al (2001)⁴⁶; Project Joy	N = 529 n = 16	53	100	100 AA	92 HS	Baltimore, MD	I1: group sessions of nutrition education, taste test or cooking demo, PA, discussion, retreat I2: faith-based I1, reminder calls, print materials (simpleins, tip sheets), church event C: nutrition/PA educational materials, screening results, retreat	Research staff, congregants	Formative research, community action and social marketing model, SLT	12 mo/ varied
Young and Stewart (2006)⁴⁷; Stretch– N’ Health	N = 196 n = 11	48.3	100	100 AA	NR	Baltimore, MD	I: group sessions (gospel music, prayer, PA, discussion, print materials, buddy supports), handouts, individual PA plans C: individual PA plans, handouts, PA, health lectures	Certified aerobics instructor, local health educator	Formative research, SCT	6 mo/ once a week
Nonrandomized Trials
Boltri et al (2011)²¹; Diabetes Prevention Program	N = 37 n = 5	57.2	70.3	100 AA	NR	GA	I: 16-group sessions (prayer, diabetes prevention education, behavior change)	Congregants	SAT	6–16 wk/ once a week
							C: 6-group sessions
Faridi et al (2010)²⁷; Partners reducing effects of diabetes (PREDICT)	N = 161 n = 19	NR	81.2	100 AA	37 ≤HS 37 <$30K	New Haven and Bridgeport, CT	I: group sessions (diabetes prevention), individual meetings, advocacy activities C: none; waitlist	Congregants	NR	12 mo/ varied
Harmon et al (2014)⁷⁰; Dash of Faith	N = 23 n = 2	61	69.6	100 AA	87 HS+	SC	I: group sessions (cooking, potlucks, discussion, nutrition education, guest speakers) C: general cancer information; waitlist	Consultant, guest speaker	Formative research, SCT	3 mo/ once a week; 8 mo/ bimonthly
Kim et al (2008)³⁰; Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance (WORD)	N = 73 n = 4	54.1	71	100 AA	46 ≤HS 26 <$20K	NR	I: group sessions (nutrition/PA education, PA, health-focused bible study, prayer) C: none	Congregants	SCT, SSM, TTM	2 mo/ once a week
Parker et al (2010)³⁵; Love, Inspiration, Family, Education (LIFE)	N = 28 n = 2	50.7	100	100 AA	11 <HS 16 <$10K	Rural SC	I: group sessions (spiritual messages, nutrition education, daily PA, provider discussions) C: nonspiritual group sessions	County extension educator	Formative research	10 wk/ once a week
Tucker et al (2017)⁵⁵; Health- Smart Church Program	N = 70 n = 2	NR	81.4	100 AA	40 ≤HS 28.6 <$20K	Bronx, NYC, NY	I: individual coaching (goal-setting), group sessions (health-smart video, resource guide, discussion, health panel), PA classes C: none; waitlist	Pastor, church leaders, community member, health professional	HSET	6 wk/ varied
Pre-post test studies
Barnhart et al (1998)²⁰	N = 16 NR	60.5	100	100 AA	NR	Bronx, New York City (NYC), NY	Group sessions (nutrition education, goal setting, FV barriers, food advertising/la bels, recipes)	Research staff	Formative research	6 wk/biweekly
Davis Smith et al (2007)⁷¹; Lifestyle Balance Church Diabetes Prevention Program	N = 10 n = 1	NR	70	100 AA	NR	Rural GA	Group sessions (nutrition education, PA, behavior change)	Research staff	NR	6 wk/ once a week
Dodani and Fields (2010)²⁵; Fit Body and Soul	N = 40 NR	46	85.3	100 AA	95 HS+	Evans County, GA	Pastor-led sermons/ messages, group sessions, individual coaching/ assessments, print materials	Pastor, congregants	Formative research	3 mo/ once a week
Goldfinger et al (2008)²⁸; Project Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles (HEAL)	N = 26 n = 1	68.3	81	100 AA	69 ≤HS 23 <$15K	Harlem, New York City, NY	Group sessions (portion control, nutrition, budget- friendly healthy eating, PA strategies)	Congregants	Formative research	10 wk/ 8 sessions total
Gutierrez et al (2014)⁷²; Fine, Fit, and Fabulous (FFF)	N = 183 n = 15	NR	88.3	58.5 AA, 41.5 Latinos	73.2 HS+	Bronx, NYC, NY	Group sessions (nutrition education, healthy eating techniques, spiritual messages, PA)	Consultant, trainer	Formative research	3 mo/ once a week
Ivester et al (2010)⁷³	N = 41 n = 1	53	65.9	98 W	NR	NC	Group sessions (prayer, nutrition education, PA), print materials, heart rate monitors, individual PA	NR	NR	2 mo/ twice a week
Kumanyika and Charleston (1992)³¹; Lose Weight and Win	N = 74 n = 22	51	100	98 AA	NR	Baltimore, MD	Group sessions (nutrition education, PA), nutrition and behavioral counseling, competitions	Registered dietitian, LHA, exercise instructor	NR	2 mo/ once a week
Martinez et al (2012)³²	N = 144 n = 1	43	100	100 Latinos^a	57 ≤HS 42<$2K (monthly)	San Diego, CA	LHA-led walking groups (spiritual educational messages, prayers), PA class, sermons, print materials, health seminars, LHA walking audits, advocacy events	LHA, pastor	NR	6 mo/ varied
McCoy et al (2017)⁷⁴	N = 82 NR	52	87.8	100 AA	100 HS+ 17 <$30K	MS	I: health text messages, weight loss competition C: weight loss competition	Phone-based	Formative research, HBM, IMB	3 mo/ 3 times a week
Oexmann et al (2001)³⁴; Lighten Up	N = 163 n = 24	57	82	64 AA	NR	NC; SC	Group sessions (prayer, bible study, stories, diaries, spiritual health messages), support calls, behavior change checklist	NR	NR	2 mo/ once a week
Peterson and Cheng (2011)³⁶; Heart and Soul PA Program	N = 18 n = 1	49.6	100	100 AA	44 <HS 55 <$40K	Urban Midwestern city	Group sessions (PA, prayer, bible messages, social support domains), booklet	Nurse practitioner	Formative research, social comparison theory	6 wk/ once a week
Whisenant et al (2013)⁷⁵	N = 56 n = 3	NR	89.3	NR	NR	AL	I: group sessions (prayer, faith- based healthy living topics, bible study, PA) C: group sessions (faith-based health messages, nutrition/PA educational messages, prayer, bible study, PA)	Health experts; nutritionists, nurses, exercise physiologist, volunteers	NR	3–6 mo/ varied
Whitt-Glover et al (2008)⁷⁶	N = 87 n = 4	52	89	100 AA	96% HS+	NC	Group sessions (prayer, behavioral strategies to increase PA, PA, discussion, faith-based messages, incentives)	Certified fitness instructor, community LHA	SCT	3 mo/ once a week
Williams et al (2015)⁷⁷; Turn the Beat Around	N = 201 n = 9	52	73.6	100 AA	25.1 ≤HS	AL	Group sessions (prayer, stroke prevention curriculum, nutrition/ PA education, BP control, goal setting, food demo)	Congregants, county extension personnel	TTM	3 mo/ biweekly
Yeary et al (2011)⁵⁶; WORD	N = 26 n = 3	50.8	84.6	100 AA	42.3 ≤HS 69.2 <30K	AR	I; group sessions (faith-based messages, nutrition/ PA educational messages, behavioral strategies, PA), self- monitoring diaries	Congregants	Formative research, SCT, SSM	16 wk/ once a week

Note: Reported income is the annual household income unless otherwise noted; numbers were rounded to the whole percent; % unless otherwise noted.¹

100% were of Mexican descent.

These studies did not report the racial/ethnic background of the study population. We are assuming it is 100% AA given the inclusion criteria and/or study focus.ccontrol.

Abbreviations: AA, African American; AL, Alabama; C, control or comparison group; CA, California; DASH, dietary approaches to stop hypertension; DE, Delaware; EM, ecological model; FV, fruits and vegetables; GA, Georgia; HBM, health belief model; HS, high school degree; HSET, health self-empowerment theory; HBM, xxxxx; I, intervention group; IMB, information-motivation-behavior skills model; KA, Kansas; LHA, lay health advisors(s); MD, Maryland; MI, motivational interviewing; NC, North Carolina; NR, not reported; NYC, New York City; PA, physical activity; SAT, social action theory; SC, South Carolina; SCT, social cognitive theory; SLT, social learning theory; SSM, social support models; TTM, transtheoretical (stages of change) model; VA, Virginia; W, White.