Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally Adapted Intervention to Promote Resistance Exercise in...

Young Black women face barriers to exercise and elevated cardiometabolic risk, yet resistance exercise (RE) remains underutilized despite its benefits. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a 24-week culturally adapted RE intervention + text messages in young Black women. Participants were randomized to the motivational exercise group (MEG; n = 14) or the standard exercise group (SEG; n = 13). Both groups received 10 and 11 weeks of supervised (by a Black woman) and unsupervised RE. MEG received additional cultural adaptations and weekly discussions to build competence, autonomy, and self-regulation strategies + mobile support. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via recruitment, consent, and retention rates, adherence, and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Recruitment and consent rates were 97.2% and 100.0%, respectively. Retention rates were 93.3% (MEG) and 86.7% (SEG) at 12 weeks, and 93.3% and 80.0% at 24 weeks, respectively. Supervised adherence was 93.9% and 88.8% in MEG and SEG, and 14.3% and 15.4%, respectively, during unsupervised RE. Participants desired continued support and a more tailored mobile experience during unsupervised RE. Supervised RE with ethnically matched trainers was feasible and acceptable. Future interventions should incorporate mobile tools with tailored feedback and accountability strategies to sustain long-term RE to improve health outcomes in this population.