Pilot Social Network Weight Loss Intervention

The intervention will consist of 12 community-based mentoring and education sessions, group activities and application of a community toolkit for healthy weight loss delivered by trained interventionists from Hispanic and Somali communities to their social networks. Using a pre-post study design, 4 social networks of adults with approximately 32 network participants will receive the intervention. Primary outcomes, measured 3 months after implementation, will include feasibility measures of acceptability, implementation, and practicality. Secondary outcomes will include BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, physical activity level, dietary change, and health-related quality of life.

Eligibility criteria include (1) self-identification as Hispanic or Somali, (2) member of an HPs social network, (3) age≥18 and <65 (4) willingness to participate in all aspects of the study; and (5) provision of informed consent. Exclusion criteria include (1) pregnancy at the time of enrollment and (2) serious medical conditions or disabilities that would make physical activity difficult.

We will test how best to integrate a social network intervention within an existing evidence-based regional health promotion infrastructure (WellConnect) that will enhance its potential dissemination and community-wide uptake

Inclusion criteria

• self-identification as Hispanic or Somali
• member of an HPs social network
• age≥18 and <65
• willingness to participate in all aspects of the study
• provision of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy at the time of enrollment
• serious medical conditions or disabilities that would make physical activity difficult.

• To avoid stigmatization, a normal weight (BMI<25) will not exclude individuals from participating, but they will be excluded from the measurements and analyses.