Behavioral Plant-Based Dietary Intervention in Latinos

Washington University School of Medicine

Overview

The Aims of this study are 1) to develop a traditional plant-based diet that is palatable and acceptable to the Latino population and which contains the appropriate calorie and macronutrient composition needed to lose weight and improve metabolic function and; 2) to develop a culturally sensitive \[based on previous literature and stakeholder input\] lifestyle intervention program, that will be delivered by community health workers \[CHWs\], that focuses on consuming a traditional plant-based diet and overcoming the barriers to incorporating this dietary therapy as part of the family lifestyle but with a focus on the adult participant with obesity. Ultimately, in Aim 3 the investigators will conduct a 16-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 40 Latino adults with obesity \[20 control, 20 treatment\] to evaluate the intervention's: i) clinical efficacy; ii) fidelity of the implementation by CHWs; and iii) acceptance by CHWs and study participants.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Conditions

Obesity Metabolic Disease

Interventions

Behavioral plant-based dietary interventionBEHAVIORAL

Participants will meet with community health workers to receive information focused on healthy eating and consuming a traditional plant-based diet in a group format for the first few months followed by individual check-ins.

Standard careBEHAVIORAL

Participants will meet with community health workers to receive general health information through individual check-ins.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 35 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Self-reported Hispanic and/or Latino heritage * Body Mass Index (BMI) 30-42 kg/m² * HbA1c ≤ 6.4% Exclusion Criteria: * Previous diagnosis of diabetes * Unstable weight (≥4% during the last 2 months prior to study enrollment) * Severe cardiovascular disease within the 6 months prior to study enrollment * Severe organ system dysfunction * active substance abuse with alcohol or drugs * Severe anemia * Pregnant or breastfeeding * Use of medications that are known to affect the study outcome measures * Persons who are not able to grant voluntary informed consent

Locations (1)

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute

Santa Barbara, California, United States