(P16-035-25) Lifestyle Changes With Produce Boxes and Diabetes Prevention: Reducing Weight and Disease Risk

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine whether the combination of produce and protein boxes with Diabetes education lowered body weight and risk in adults.

Methods: The effects of providing produce boxes with food tastings during Diabetes education classes were measured using participants’ physical activity minutes and body weight loss during the program. Body weight was measured using a scale that connected to an application the workplace provided their employees with so their weight loss could be charted over the year program. Physical activity minutes were self-reported to the instructor each class session.

Results: In a one-year cohort with seven participants which included instructional materials, produce/protein boxes, and food tastings, two participants achieved 5% body weight loss in six months (28.5%). Both participant A and participant B achieved over the 5% body weight loss goal within six months. Participant A lost 14.4 lbs., which is approximately 6.5 % body weight loss and participant B lost 10.8 lbs., which is approximately 8.4% body weight loss. Participant C lost 8 lbs. which is approximately 3.67% body weight loss and has six months to reach her goal. The remaining participants are halfway through and aiming to achieve the weight loss goal of 5% or 4% and 150 minutes of physical activity.

Conclusions: A combination of disease prevention education, food tastings, and distribution of produce/protein boxes to participants increases the weight loss percentage and reduces risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Funding Sources: The funding sources included Virginia Cooperative Extension which provided educational materials and food sampling. Feeding Southwest Virginia provided the produce and protein boxes. Orvis was the workplace whose employees participated in the cohort of this program.