Project Description: Immigrant populations, by virtue of being medically-underserved, low-income, and of race-/ethnic and linguistic minority status are at particularly high risk to become obese as they adapt to the obesogenic environment in which they reside once in the US. Preventive interventions developed with the active participation of these communities have the potential to prevent or moderate the weight gain. We will demonstrate, using measures of effectiveness, the feasibility of partnering with the immigrant community in Somerville, MA to refine, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a 2-year preventive intervention to moderate or reduce weight gain in 435 mother/child dyads of new immigrants. The 435 mother/child dyads will be randomized to either receive the intervention or to serve as controls that will receive a delayed intervention, once the main trial is completed. We will enroll immigrants from Brazil, Haiti, and Latin-American countries, groups who are coming in large numbers to eastern MA, and are served by local community agencies. Intervention targets focus on 10 family-based goals in the areas of healthy eating, increased physical activity, and the reduction of sedentary behavior. Specifically, the intervention is designed to bring adults into the healthy weight range by reducing or maintaining BMI by providing education, skill development and support. In children it will be designed to result in an increased energy expenditure of up to 125 kcals per day beyond the increases in energy expenditure and energy intake that accompany growth. Based on our formative research within these groups, intervention elements will be delivered in small groups at the agencies of our community partners. }Lifestyle coaching} sessions and support groups tailored to the specific immigrant groups'needs will capitalize on traditional healthy behaviors practiced by new immigrants and teach specific strategies that effect family environments. The proposed project reflects the ongoing work of a multidisciplinary research group and builds on two successful research initiatives in Somerville, one completed and one ongoing. The goals of this community-based participatory research study have been developed from community interest and involvement. The community partners engaged with us to conduct the formative research used to develop this application, and will be involved in the design, recruitment, delivery, and research evaluation throughout the project. Dissemination of results to the affected community was deemed critical and will be done with the intention of strengthening community resources, preventive health care and education for immigrants. Furthermore, if successful, national dissemination of this trial can assist other communities with large immigrant populations to reduce the risk of obesity in this vulnerable population.

Public Health Relevance

New immigrants to the US are at high risk of weight gain and obesity as they adapt to their new obesogenic environment. Our tailored intervention, developed with active input of our community partners, stands to benefit long-term health, in the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, and thereby reduce burgeoning health care costs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD057841-02
Application #
7692870
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-S (52))
Program Officer
Esposito, Layla E
Project Start
2008-09-30
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$611,763
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Nutrition
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
039318308
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02111
Sliwa, Sarah A; Must, Aviva; Peréa, Flavia C et al. (2016) Occupational Physical Activity and Weight-Related Outcomes in Immigrant Mothers. Am J Prev Med 51:637-646
Anzman-Frasca, Stephanie; Economos, Christina D; Tovar, Alison et al. (2016) Depressive Symptoms and Weight Status Among Women Recently Immigrating to the US. Matern Child Health J 20:1578-85
Tovar, Alison; Choumenkovitch, Silvina F; Hennessy, Erin et al. (2015) Low demanding parental feeding style is associated with low consumption of whole grains among children of recent immigrants. Appetite 95:211-8
Tovar, Alison; Boulos, Rebecca; Sliwa, Sarah et al. (2014) Baseline Socio-demographic characteristics and self-reported diet and physical activity shifts among recent immigrants participating in the randomized controlled lifestyle intervention: ""Live Well"". J Immigr Minor Health 16:457-65
Tovar, Alison; Must, Aviva; Metayer, Nesly et al. (2013) Immigrating to the US: what Brazilian, Latin American and Haitian women have to say about changes to their lifestyle that may be associated with obesity. J Immigr Minor Health 15:357-64
Tovar, Alison; Hennessy, Erin; Must, Aviva et al. (2013) Feeding styles and evening family meals among recent immigrants. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10:84
Hughes, Sheryl O; Frankel, Leslie A; Beltran, Alicia et al. (2013) Food parenting measurement issues: working group consensus report. Child Obes 9 Suppl:S95-102
Tovar, Alison; Hennessy, Erin; Pirie, Alex et al. (2012) Feeding styles and child weight status among recent immigrant mother-child dyads. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 9:62
Hughes, Sheryl O; Cross, Matthew B; Hennessy, Erin et al. (2012) Caregiver's Feeding Styles Questionnaire. Establishing cutoff points. Appetite 58:393-5
Tovar, Alison; Vikre, Emily Kuross; Gute, David M et al. (2012) Development of the live well curriculum for recent immigrants: a community-based participatory approach. Prog Community Health Partnersh 6:195-204