Pirates for HEALTH: Healthy Eating, Active Living Through Hybrid Interventions

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a significant problem in the US, especially in Eastern North Carolina (ENC). Compared to 9.3% of the US and 9.6% in the rest of North Carolina, 17% of US rural and 12.7% of ENC residents have T2DM. Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) and consuming a healthy diet are crucial health behaviors that can reduce the risk of T2DM. In individuals diagnosed with T2DM, these health behaviors, coupled with weight management, are important for T2DM prevention, as well as T2DM management. With over 66% of Americans overweight/obese, a major risk factor of developing T2DM, clearly targeting overweight/obese individuals for intervention is ideal. It is imperative to find effective, sustainable, cost-effective interventions that can promote PA, a healthy diet, and weight management among overweight/obese individuals for T2DM prevention. Pirates for HEALTH: Healthy Eating, Active Living Through Health Coaching will test an innovative, technology augmented version of the Diabetes Prevention Program in the unique venue of a higher education worksite setting, with the goal of promoting weight loss through increasing PA and promoting a healthy diet for T2DM prevention. If effective at reducing weight status, Pirates for HEALTH could be more broadly translated and disseminated to reduce T2DM risk in university worksites across the US.

Scholars @ ECU