Abstract Purpose Breast cancer survivors who have overweight or obesity have worse breast cancer specific survival and outcomes as compared to those with average weight.1, 2 Our pilot Group-basEd Telehealth behavioral Weight Loss (GET-WEL) Program showed that fewer Black breast cancer survivors (BBCS) enrolled and lost less weight than White breast cancer survivors.3 This study aims to use a community-based participatory research approach to assess barriers and facilitators of implementing a behavioral weight loss intervention among BBCS. Methods Eight BBCS from a predominantly Black community were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews that were voice recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed via comparative thematic analysis. Results Thematic analyses revealed multiple barriers within participants. These included lack of affordable healthy food access, safety concerns with regards to outdoor activities, lack of affordable fitness center memberships, time constraints related to competing work/life obligations, and steep learning curves with technology use. Most BBCS preferred an integrated community-based coach to guide their weight loss interventions via a combination of both virtual and in person sessions. Conclusion Our results indicate that a multimodal approach including nutrition education, reducing physical activity barriers, limiting time constraints by implementing both in person and virtual platforms and assisting with technology courses, are necessary to improve the equitable implementation of weight loss interventions. BBCS recommended utilizing established community facilities and leveraging known community members such as nutrition counselors and physical trainers, to increase successful implementation.
Jesus et al. (Tue,) studied this question.