Promoting Muscle-Strengthening Activities in Black Women: Formative Research Findings for Intervention Development

Introduction: Black women in the United States experience a high burden of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Engaging in both moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) is essential for reducing risk and managing these conditions. Yet, only 16.5% of Black women meet national guidelines for both MVPA and MSA. Physical activity interventions for Black women have predominantly focused on MVPA, with limited attention to MSA. This study collected preliminary data to inform the development of an MSA intervention for Black women. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between December 2022 and August 2023. Participants were insufficiently active (≤60 min/wk of MVPA and <2 d/wk of MSA) Black women with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) recruited through social media, email listservs, and the National Institute of Health’s ResearchMatch database. Survey measures, adapted from previous research, assessed sociodemographics, health history, MSA and MVPA behaviors, interest in and preferences for delivery of an MSA intervention, and barriers to and facilitators of MSA. Results: Participants ( n = 90) had a mean age of 43.3 yr and a body mass index of 38.7 kg/m 2 . Most expressed interest in joining an MSA program. Resistance band activities were the most preferred MSA modality; virtual delivery was the most preferred intervention delivery method. Moderate-to-high levels of agreement were reported for most MSA benefits, especially those related to body image, physical appearance, and health outcomes. In contrast, low agreement was reported for most MSA barriers, including lack of energy, motivation, knowledge, and time. Conclusion: Despite low physical activity levels, participants expressed a strong interest in performing MSA. Findings highlight that resistance band activities and virtual delivery are key design strategies for researchers to explore in future intervention research. Moreover, emphasizing the perceived benefits of MSA may be more effective for promoting MSA than focusing on strategies to overcome perceived barriers.