Sugar Champ: Pilot Social Network Intervention to Reduce Intake of Sugary Drinks

The 1.2 million households living in public housing are disproportionately affected by obesity, where prevalence is estimated at 50%. An ecologic framework hypothesizes that this disparity is related, in part, to social and environmental factors within these neighborhoods that influence residents' lifestyles. Social networks and the built environment may work together to promote or inhibit lifestyle behaviors; however, combined social network-built environment interventions have not previously targeted changes in diet. Investigators hypothesize that an intervention that combines a social network approach with strategies that address public housing residents' challenges related to the built environment will improve dietary habits. The investigators' overall aim is to develop a combined social network-built environment intervention to reduce intake of beverages high in added sugars and to pilot test the intervention among residents of public housing developments in Baltimore, MD. The investigators' aim for this work is: 1) To develop a combined social network-built environment intervention to reduce intake of beverages high in added sugars and to pilot test the intervention among residents of public housing developments in Baltimore, MD. Investigators hypothesize that a social network intervention will be feasible and acceptable in promoting healthy lifestyle change, and that this intervention will alter lifestyle behaviors among public housing residents.

Investigators will conduct a 6-month non-randomized trial of the social network intervention described below. This will be a single arm trial in which investigators compare the outcomes of interest pre- and post- intervention. Investigators will adapt an HIV risk reduction social network intervention to create a new social network intervention targeting reduction in intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). The investigators' primary outcomes will be to test the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention and its components as well as estimate the likely effect of the intervention.

In the intervention, individuals will be recruited and trained to be "Peer Educators" who will participate in group sessions and then communicate this information with members of participant's social network ("Sidekick") and work to make changes to reduce intake of added sugars together. Given the frequent intake of SSB in this population, the intervention will focus on reducing added sugar intake through the reduced consumption of SSB. Peer Educators will participate in 6 core group sessions over a 6-week period as well as 3 additional booster sessions after completing the core curriculum. All sessions will be delivered by a facilitator and assistant facilitator using a guide. All groups will be held in a room in each public housing development's administrative building.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 18 years old
* BMI≥25 kg/m2
* Must consume sugar-sweetened beverages at least twice daily
* "Peer Educators" must identify one high-risk alter in the social network to enroll as "Sidekick"
* Resides in select public housing developments in Baltimore, MD

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any underlying medical conditions that could seriously reduce life expectancy, ability to participate in the trial, or for which lifestyle change may be contraindicated and/or require medical supervision by a physician such as medication-dependent diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung disease requiring supplemental oxygen, dementia, angina, or diagnosis in the last 12 months of myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack or stroke
* Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding