Effect of Dietary Self-Monitoring in Caucasian and African-American Women

Author

Julianne Tondreau, Belmont University

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is 1) to assess the effect of dietary self-monitoring on weight loss in a population of Caucasian and African-American women and men; and 2) to determine if there is a difference in African Americans’ and Caucasians’ use of self-monitoring in weight loss.

Review of the Literature: Previous studies demonstrated increased weight loss with dietary self-monitoring; however, these studies’ samples are 70-80% Caucasian women and cannot be generalized to African-Americans or men. Studies confirming the effectiveness of dietary intake self-monitoring in non-Caucasian women and men are needed.

Methodology: Using a cohort design with prospective and retrospective components, collected data included demographics, dietary self-monitoring use, body mass index (BMI) fat mass lost, overall weight loss, and percentage weight lost.

Results: The results of the study support the previously conducted studies’ findings of the effectiveness of self-monitoring of diet in promoting weight loss attempts in females and extends the results to African-American females. The results also showed no significant difference in effect or degree of self-monitoring in African-American and Caucasian women participants who chose self-monitoring in addition to the basic clinic approach. An insufficient number of males participated to allow a comparison on the effects of self-monitoring on weight loss in men.

Implications for NPs: Dietary self-monitoring is an effective strategy in African-American and Caucasian women for increased weight loss as a part of a medically managed weight loss program. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) should employ this strategy with more confidence in the evidence for a wider population.

Date

4-25-2016

First Advisor

Linda Wofford

Scholarly Project Team Member

Martha Buckner

Scholarly Project Team Member

Tracy Rokas

Department

Nursing, School of

College

Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree

Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Doctoral

Degree Grantor

Belmont University

Keywords

dietary self-monitoring; weight loss; behavioral intervention

Recommended Citation

Tondreau, Julianne, "Effect of Dietary Self-Monitoring in Caucasian and African-American Women" (2016). DNP Scholarly Projects. 41.
https://repository.belmont.edu/dnpscholarlyprojects/41