Background and Purpose: Racial and ethnic minority populations are disproportionally affected by obesity. Text messaging is a major feature of mobile phones and is popular because it allows people to receive information effectively, unobtrusively, and privately. However, the willingness to exercise and eat healthy to prevent obesity by receiving text messages is unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine low-income African Americans' willingness to prevent obesity by receiving mobile phone text messaging. Methods: We conducted focus group interviews to allow participants to share their own perceptions of their experiences using text messages. Researchers conducted five focus groups consisting of 30 participants. Focus group participants were recruited from the local Cincinnati Recreational Center where they were part of a 10-week sustainable obesity modification program. Participants were low-income African American adults between the ages of 31 and 34 years of age living in single family homes. Results: Low-income African American families were receptive to the idea of receiving text messages and willing to show some self-efficacy to prevent obesity. Conclusion: Since we live in a digital age where millions of people rely on their cell phones for information and send text messages daily, it is critical that we allow people the self-efficacy to make healthy decisions and have a positive healthy lifestyle. Text messaging has the potential of expanding the reach of obesity prevention in that cell phones are increasingly inexpensive, convenient, and accessible to low-income African Americans.