Optimizing Interventions to Improve Nutrition Security and Reduce Diabetes Risk Among Food Pantry Clients
Tufts University
Summary
Not having enough food for each person in a household, also called food insecurity, makes it hard to eat a nutritious diet, maintain a healthy weight, and manage diabetes risk. Food banks and pantries provide direct food assistance that can mitigate food insecurity among people with lower income, however, people that utilize these organizations face time, resource, and physical constraints that limit their ability to consistently select and cook healthier meals and the organizations face budget constraints that limit their bandwidth for implementing nutrition programs. This research will test four innovative nutrition programs (nutritious prepared meals, medically tailored groceries in the form of meal kits, culinary medicine, motivational text messages) to identify which are the most effective for supporting healthy eating and food security and the most cost effective for organizations to implement, as an effort to reduce diabetes risk, improve diabetes self-management, and diminish health disparities.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18+, * Body mass index (BMI)≥ 25; * Access to a device with SMS and MMS (picture) text and Wi-Fi capabilities (e.g., phone, tablet, computer) and willingness to use the device regularly during the study; * Willingness to complete four in-person data collection appointments; * Willing and able to consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a condition or dietary restriction precluding eating study meals or weight loss (e.g., condition requiring liquid diet, pregnancy); * Another member of the household participating; * Planning to move within the next 12 months; * U…