ProduceRx: Improving Weight and Cardiovascular Risk in Adults With Food Insecurity and Obesity

University of Pennsylvania31 enrolled

Overview

This is a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of providing produce vouchers during behavioral weight loss treatment in 40 adults with obesity and food insecurity. Participants will be randomized to ProduceRx (12 weekly sessions of in-person, behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL) + produce prescriptions) or a waitlist control (WLC).

The proposed investigation is a single-site, pilot RCT to assess the effect of BWL and produce vouchers (ProduceRx) on diet quality, weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors among adult participants with food insecurity and obesity. Adults (N=40) will be randomized to a 12-week program that provides weekly, 30-minute BWL sessions + produce vouchers (n=20) or WLC (n=20). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks and include questionnaires, and measurements of weight, height, and cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, waist circumference, and pulse). Participants will also be asked to complete two 24-hour dietary recalls.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity

Interventions

Behavioral weight loss and produce vouchersBEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive weekly 30-minute, individual, in-person lifestyle counseling delivered by trained interventionists (e.g., registered dietitians) that consists of behavioral, dietary, and physical activity counseling. ProduceRx vouchers will be in the form of Food Bucks and will be provided at each session.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 18 years old 2. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 3. Food insecurity as assessed by the two-item "hunger vital sign" 4. Subjects must: 1. have reliable telephone or Internet service to communicate with study staff 2. plan to remain in the Philadelphia area for the next 6 months or more 5. Understand and be willing to comply with all study-related procedures and agree to participate in the study by giving written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant, nursing, or plans to become pregnant in the next 6 months 2. Serious medical risk such as uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, congestive heart failure, or recent cardiac event (e.g., myocardial infarction or stroke within the past 6 months) 3. Clinically significant hepatic or renal disease 4. History of (or plans for) bariatric surgery 5. Current psychiatric disorder that significantly interferes with daily living 6. Self-reported alcohol or substance abuse within the past 12 months 7. Use in past 3 months of medications known to induce significant weight loss (i.e., prescription weight loss medications) or weight gain (e.g., chronic use of oral steroids, second generation antipsychotics) 8. Loss of ≥ 10 lb of body weight within the past 3 months 9. Participation in a structured weight loss program in the prior 6 months 10. Inability to walk 2 blocks comfortably or engage in some other form of aerobic activity (e.g., swimming) 11. Participant from same household 12. Inability to attend treatment and/or assessment visits 13. Lack of capacity to provide informed consent 14. Any serious or unstable medical or psychological condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the patient's safety or successful participation in the study

Locations (1)

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Dietary quality

Change from baseline to 12 weeks in dietary quality from 24-hour dietary recalls summarized into Healthy Eating Index (HEI) Scores and caloric intake. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better diet quality.