2021-2022 Grant in Aid of Research
Effects of a 12-week Plant-based Diet Program on Obese and Overweight Adults in Rural Michigan
Nadine Larcher
Background: Obesity is a multifaceted, chronic disease condition typified by excess subcutaneous and visceral fat. Being obese or overweight predisposes individuals to many comorbidities such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). A growing body of research studies has shown that adopting a low-fat wholefood plant-based diet (WFPBD) regime consisting of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and no animal-based products is an effective measure to counteract the rising pandemic of chronic diseases related to obesity.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to exam the effects of a WFPBD on overweight and obese adults residing in northern Michigan.
Methods: This project uses a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design. The intervention is entitled The Eat Well, Live Well Program. Through a 12-week evidence-based online lifestyle educational intervention, participants will be taught the principles of a whole food plant-based diet (WFPBD) and how they can apply these measures to lose weight, lower their risk factors for obesity-related diseases, and manage obesity-related problems. This 12- week intervention program will seek to recruit 34 participants. Pretest and post-test dietary intake, self-efficacy, and biometric measurements of weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid levels, and fasting blood glucose will measure the effectiveness of the intervention. The project will be guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Results: SPSS version 27 will be used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics, including means for continuous demographic variables and frequencies for categorical variables, will be computed. Paired sample t-test will be used to measure pre-and post-intervention group differences in the dependent variables. As needed, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to compare post-intervention means between demographics with three or more categories.