Sleep and Physical Activity Intervention for Increasing Physical Activity in Overweight or Obese and Sedentary African Americans

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the feasibility and satisfaction of a brief sleep intervention prior to or following a physical activity (PA) intervention and a contact control among overweight/obese sedentary African Americans.

II. Examine experiences of sleep among overweight/obese sedentary African Americans using qualitative focus groups/individual interviews.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Pilot test and evaluate the efficacy and sequential effects of a brief sleep intervention prior to or following a PA intervention in improving sleep, increasing physical activity, and reducing sedentary behavior, compared to a contact control group.

II. Explore the correlations among psychosocial (e.g., perceived stress, affect, neighborhood characteristics), biomarker (e.g., non-fasting glucose levels, blood pressure), and health behavior (e.g., diet and sedentary behavior) with sleep and PA.

OUTLINE:

FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS: Participants attend either a focus group or interview about the sleep intervention and sleep-related problems over 90 minutes.

Participants are randomized to 1 of 3 groups.

GROUP I: Participants receive a web-based sleep intervention weekly during weeks 1-4. Participants then receive 2 web-based health coaching sessions over 30-45 minutes consisting of topics such as healthy shopping, increasing physical activity, identifying barriers, and eating out during weeks 5-9. Participants may optionally complete an interview over 1 hour at week 9.

GROUP II: Participants receive 2 web-based health coaching sessions over 30-45 minutes consisting of topics such as healthy shopping, increasing physical activity, identifying barriers, and eating out during weeks 1-4. Participants then receive a web-based sleep intervention weekly during weeks 5-9. Participants may optionally complete an interview over 1 hour at week 9.

GROUP III: Participants receive educational material on healthy homes. Participants also receive 2 web-based counseling sessions over 30-45 minutes consisting of topics such as indoor air quality, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, and emergency preparedness at weeks 1 and 3. Participants may optionally complete an interview over 1 hour at week 9.

Inclusion criteria

• Sedentary (not meeting Physical Activity Guidelines)
• Overweight and/or obese adults (body mass index range: 25.0 or greater)
• Average habitual sleep duration of =< 6 hours
• Access to internet
• Self-identify as black or African American
• Able to engage in moderate intensity physical activity as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or by physicians clearance (letter from physician or nurse practitioner) if endorsing any items on the PAR-Q

Exclusion criteria

• Pre-existing sleep disorder (i.e., insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep walking disorder via self-report)
• High risk for obstructive sleep apnea (i.e., STOP-BANG score > 5)
• Psychiatric disorder (current risk of severe depression as measured by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD] > 15 with/without past history of diagnosed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-V] disorder)
• Self-reported physician diagnosed thyroid condition that is not currently being treated
• Shift work or employment that requires weekly flights to a different time zone or overnight travel
• Enrolled in weight management program
• Excessive caffeine intake (> 400 mg caffeine intake/day or the equivalent of > 4 cups of coffee)
• Plans to change residence out of Houston within the next 3 months
• Self-reported pregnancy or less than 4 months postpartum
• Participated in formative focus groups/individual interviews for this study
• Blood pressure readings >= 140/90 mm or by physicians clearance (letter from physician or nurse practitioner) if blood pressure reading >= 140/90 mm Hg
• Another household member is enrolled in the study