Research Project
Preparing a Food Is Medicine intervention to promote healthy eating and blood pressure control in hypertensive Black women with obesity
Hypertension and obesity are both major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death for Black women in the United States. Obesity and hypertension can be prevented or controlled with diet for Black populations, as evidenced in the DASH, ENCORE, and PREDIMED trials. However, lack of access to affordable healthy foods in the neighborhood environment contributes to poor diet quality. In Chicago, obesogenic food environments in segregated Black communities have contributed to disparate access to healthy foods. In addition, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which play a significant role in healthcare delivery for Black Americans, are more likely to be in medically underserved communities, and key social determinants of health such as low income, food insecurity and poor food access are more prevalent...
- Principal Investigator
- Lofton, Saria
- Start Date
- 2022-07-01
- End Date
- 2024-06-30
- Funding Source
- University of Chicago
Abstract
Hypertension and obesity are both major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death for Black women in the United States. Obesity and hypertension can be prevented or controlled with diet for Black populations, as evidenced in the DASH, ENCORE, and PREDIMED trials. However, lack of access to affordable healthy foods in the neighborhood environment contributes to poor diet quality. In Chicago, obesogenic food environments in segregated Black communities have contributed to disparate access to healthy foods. In addition, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which play a significant role in healthcare delivery for Black Americans, are more likely to be in medically underserved communities, and key social determinants of health such as low income, food insecurity and poor food access are more prevalent. Therefore, we propose examining the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week Food is Medicine intervention -grocery delivery, cooking classes, and nutrition education – for hypertensive Black women who are obese, which may lead to weight loss and reduced sodium intake and blood pressure. Our proposed intervention (FIM+) is adapted from an existing FIM program called Mi Care DM. Mi Care DM provided a prescription for fresh produce grown at a local farm in parallel with chronic disease risk reduction education to diabetes patients served by a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Chicago. Responding to the C3EN Pilot Grant Program and based on our formative evaluation and adaptation, the objective of this study is to conduct pilot FIM+ for 12-weeks among Black women who are obese and hypertensive living in two communities in Chicago with limited access to healthy foods. We propose to 1) Pilot the FIM+ intervention and measures that will be used to assess blood pressure, BMI status, and sodium intake with 20 Black women diagnosed with hypertension and BMI ≥ 30. We will assess the efficacy of the evaluation tools to be used in a future clinical trial at three time points (baseline, 12 weeks, and 6-months); and 2) Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the FIM+ intervention using interviews, surveys, and documentary analysis. Findings from this study will inform a larger efficacy trial of FIM+ to improve dietary behaviors and blood pressure control among Black women with hypertension and obesity.