Objective: To explore the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical/behavioral outcomes of a remotely-delivered, culturally-tailored plant-based nutrition and lifestyle intervention designed to improve cardiovascular risk among Black adults in a rural, Black Belt community.
Methods: We implemented a 12-week intervention with weekly educational sessions, cooking lessons, social support, exercise, and food items.
Outcome(s): Body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, trimethylamine N-oxide, diet/physical activity. Paired t tests analyzed preintervention and postintervention differences (n = 24).
Results: Body mass index and waist circumference were reduced (P < 0.001), and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 10.8% and 13.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a 25.8% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.02). Diet and physical activity were also improved.
Conclusions and implications: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a remotely-delivered intervention focused on improving cardiovascular risk through plant-based nutrition, physical activity/wellness, social support, and cultural adaptability. Larger scale and longer-term studies are needed.
Keywords: African American; chronic disease; diet patterns; plant-based; rural health; vegetarian.
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