Text Message Program to Improve Eating Behaviors Among African Americans in New Orleans

Text Message Program to Improve Eating Behaviors Among African Americans in New Orleans

The purpose of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a mobile phone-based text messaging intervention to change the attitudes and eating behaviors of African American women residing in New Orleans, LA.

Design: The proposed study is a pre/post-test design where up to 60 female adult black/African Americans in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana will be recruited to participated (Intervention, n=30; control n=30). If a woman is interested in participating, she will be asked to complete an evaluation/screen to determine if they are eligible for the study and asked to consent to participate. If a woman consents to participate they will be randomized to one of 2 groups:

1. Intervention group: Text messages to promote healthy eating: In this group, participants will receive personalized text messages to encourage healthy eating, specifically to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and water; and a reduction in sugar sweetened beverages. They will receive some messages that will ask for a reply. They will receive an average of 1-2 messages per day for 4 weeks.
2. Control group: Control group participants will receive non-nutrition-related physical activity and general health/wellbeing text message. They will receive the text messages an average of 1-2 messages per day for 4 weeks

All participants will be asked to do the following tests that are not used to determine eligibility: Complete questionnaires about their background, nutrition habits, physical activity habits, health history, beliefs and opinions about health and habits. Data will be analyzed by comparing assessment outcomes within and across study arms (i.e., intervention, control).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age range: 25 years of age or older
2. Gender: Women
3. Ethnic background: African American or Black
4. Location: Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
5. Own a mobile phone
6. Open to being assigned to either the intervention or control group.
7. Willing and able to use their phone to read, receive and send text messages and phone calls.
8. No overt cardiovascular disease or acute symptomatology. (self-reported).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age range: under 25 years of age
2. Ethnic background: not African American or Black
3. Location: Live outside of Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
4. Does not own a mobile phone
5. Not open to being assigned to either the intervention or control group.
6. Unwilling and unable to use their phone to read, receive and send text messages and phone calls.
7. Overt cardiovascular disease or acute symptomatology. (self-reported).