The Relationship of Social Support with Treatment Adherence and Weight Loss in Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Little is known about the effects of social support on weight loss in Latinos. This study determined whether sex moderated and treatment adherence mediated the association between social support and weight loss. Methods: Data from 278 Latino males and females with type 2 diabetes in the Intensive Lifestyle Intervention of the Look AHEAD trial were analyzed. Multivariable modeling tested for moderation and parallel multiple mediator modeling simultaneously tested the mediating effects of adherence to physical activity, diet, and session attendance on the relationship between baseline social support and percent weight loss at 1 year. Results: Social support for physical activity (having family and friends join in physical activity) was related to weight loss. Adherence to physical activity was related to both social support for physical activity and weight loss. Sex did not moderate these relationships. Adherence to physical activity completely mediated the relationship between social support for physical activity and weight loss. Conclusions: Increasing companionship for physical activity may be an effective intervention strategy to promote behaviors important for weight loss among Latinos.