Blacks and Hispanics who made a small change in their eating strategy accompanied by a positive affect/self-affirmation intervention did not lose more weight than those who made the change without the intervention, according to a study involving 405 individuals. The intervention led to less weight gain in those with more interval life events.

Participants were black or Hispanic with body mass index between 25 and 50 kg/m2. They selected 1 of 10 small change eating strategies and a physical activity goal, and further received either the intervention or no intervention. Investigators followed them for a year. Among the results:

• Results were the same in both groups at 1 year.
• Overall, 9% lost at least 7% of initial body weight.
• Those who reported more interval life events were less apt to lose weight, but those in the small change positive affect/self-affirmation group gained less weight.