A Sustainable Model For Obesity Interventions Among Low-Income Latinas

Ardmore Institute of Health provided grant funding to Loma Linda University Health to assist in developing a health improvement initiative that incorporates Full Plate Living and is led by community health workers. Yanina Sandoval, one of the community health workers on the project, presented the following presentation: From Weekly Sessions To Support Groups To Self-Help Groups: A Sustainable Model For Obesity Interventions Among Low-Income Latinas. Click here to view the slide deck.

An abstract of the same title was presented at a round table session on November 13, 2023 (APHA 2023 annual conference).

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the USA especially among low-income

Latinos, increasing even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the challenges

with weight-management programs is that Latinos often do not culturally connect to the

programs. Furthermore, these programs often lack long-term sustainability. To improve

cultural connectedness, reduce cost and prolong results, a CHW-led intervention held

during the COVID-19 pandemic strongly promoted social connectedness among

program participants during and after the intervention.

Obese Latinas (N=65) attended a ten-week lifestyle program led by community health

workers (CHWs), online or in-person - and completed self-reported surveys regarding

their behaviors at baseline and immediately following the intervention. Data were

collected and analyzed using SPSS at baseline, 3-months and one-year post program.