Abstract B095: Eat, Move, Live: An intervention strategy for the reduction of cancer and chronic diseases tailored to the Latina population
Authors: Resto Cristal , Serrano Mayra , Nerio Katty , Garcia Marisela , Fernandez Alejandro , Seewaldt Victoria L. 
Published: August 2020

Chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity have been linked with an increased occurrence of various malignancies. Given that 1 in 3 Latina women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, it is critical that chronic diseases be targeted. In order to reduce the incidence of cancer and chronic disease among the Latina population, the Eat, Move, Live (EML) program was created. EML is a community-based intervention strategy aimed at reducing the prevalence of chronic disease risk through tailored modifications in lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity. Recruitment for the study occurred through collaboration with community organizations and with the use of flyers, social media, and word of mouth. Through recruitment a total of 48 participants enrolled and 28 completed follow-up data. Participants of the program attended a 5-week series of courses that included a one-hour interactive nutritional education segment aimed at chronic disease risk reduction, a 30-minute food preparation followed by a demonstration, and 30-minute physical activity session. Each of the courses was conducted at a community partner site as a way to increase participation and adherence. Health behaviors, beliefs, demographics, body measurements and biomarkers were taken at baseline and at follow-up. The mean weight at baseline was 174.8 lb and at follow-up was 171.4 lb (p-value &lt;0.001), with a mean weight loss of 3.4 lbs. The mean waist-to-hip (WHR) at baseline was 0.86 and 0.85 at follow-up. Although WHR mean ratio was not statistically significant, there was a reduction in the WHR to 0.85, and according to the World Health Organization a WHR of 0.85 and below is viewed as healthy for women. Mean BMI at baseline was 32.2 and at follow-up was 30.4. BMI data were approaching significance with a p-value &lt; 0.06. Our findings suggest that a tailored community-based intervention strategy can significantly reduce weight loss among the Latina population. This has important implications because weight loss has been linked to a reduction in the risk for cancer and other chronic diseases (1). Following completion of the program, participants shared that before the intervention views of chronic diseases were viewed as irreversible, but after education an improved understanding that modifiable behaviors could result in the prevention/delay of the onset of chronic diseases was observed. Future implications of this program are focused on increasing the retention rate and sustainability of results.

Citation Format: Cristal Resto, Mayra Serrano, Katty Nerio, Marisela Garcia, Alejandro Fernandez, Victoria L. Seewaldt. Eat, Move, Live: An intervention strategy for the reduction of cancer and chronic diseases tailored to the Latina population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B095.