Healthy Hearts: Leveraging the Diabetes Prevention Program to Decrease Health Disparities in Women of Reproductive Age
Healthy Hearts: Leveraging the Diabetes Prevention Program to Decrease Health Disparities in Women of Reproductive Age
Nearly half of women have obesity and/or hypertension (HTN). Specific to women, pregnancy creates a vulnerable window for excess gestational weight gain (GWG), exacerbating intergenerational risks for obesity, HTN, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) across the lifespan. Healthy lifestyles are the first-line recommendations for prevention and treatment of overweight/obesity, HTN, T2D, and CVD. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a well-established, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led public health program focusing on healthy lifestyle changes and is effective at reducing 5-7% of body weight, lowering risks for T2D. Interestingly, research investigating the DPP as a lifestyle intervention for other chronic conditions (i.e., overweight/obesity and HTN) is lacking, demonstrating a missed opportunity. The aim of this study is to determine the initial effects of the first 6-months and after receiving the full 12-months of the virtual DPP compared to the DPP expanded with a CDC-approved HTN prevention component (DPP+) on physical activity, diet, weight, and CVD risk factors in 30 prediabetic women (18-45 years old) with a history of excess GWG, overweight/obesity, and HTN. Participants will be recruited through University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) community-based clinics using Epic. The Participants will be randomized into 2 groups (DPP and DPP+) and guided through the 12-month virtual DPP or DPP+ program using UTMB DPP personnel.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: