Addressing Hispanic Obesity Disparities Using a Community Health Worker Model Grounded in Motivational Interviewing. Issue 2 (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Louis D.; Vasquez, Denise; Lopez, Diane I.; Portillo, Erin M.
• Is Part Of: American journal of health promotion. Volume 36:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 259
• Page End: 268
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: community health workers -- motivational interviewing -- obesity -- hispanic health disparities -- health equity; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health Promotion; Health promotion; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.1177/08901171211049679
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-1171

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether Hispanic residents receiving the Healthy Fit intervention enhanced with Motivational Interviewing (MI) experienced greater improvements in body composition, relative to participants receiving the initial intervention. Design: Quasi-experimental evaluation. Setting: El Paso, Texas. Sample: Among 656 baseline participants, 374 (54%) completed the 12-month assessment. Intervention: In Healthy Fit, community health workers (CHWs) promote nutrition and exercise. To strengthen intrinsic motivation and help participants overcome barriers to change, we incorporated a 30-minute motivational interview into the baseline assessment. Follow-up phone calls at 1, 3, and 6 months were identical across conditions. Measures: CHWs assessed body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) using a bioelectrical impedance scale. Analysis: Regression models estimated differences between intervention conditions on change in BMI and BFP from baseline to the 12-month assessment. Results: Participants receiving MI had 2.13 times higher odds of losing weight (OR = 2.14, 95% CI [1.30, 3.53], P = .003) and 2.59 times higher odds of reduced BFP (OR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.51, 4.41], P < .001), relative to initial intervention participants. MI participants lost an average of 1.23 kg (2.71 lbs.) and their BFP declined 2% over 12 months. Conclusion: Findings suggest CHW use of MI is a promising approach for promoting incremental changes in diet and exercise, which Healthy Fit integrates into a low-cost intervention.