Salud con Sabor Latino: A longitudinal study of an obesity prevention curriculum in an underserved Latino community

Salsa con Sabor Latino is a culturally sensitive obesity prevention curriculum that incorporates the traditions and values of the Latino community and family. The four-week curriculum meets twice a week, and includes an education and cooking component. Key components of the curriculum include: portion size, reading food labels, taking small steps, eating a variety of foods, and the importance of physical activity. The final week includes a supermarket tour and celebration potluck. Participants take ownership of the course by getting actively involved in the teaching modules. Assets of this program are the transferred learning with participants modifying their lifestyles and modeling this for others in their community network. The curriculum is taught in English and Spanish by a bi-cultural Promotora. Participants are primarily low-income and uninsured. Goals of the program are to improve: 1) knowledge of fitness and nutrition, 2) physical activity, 3) healthy eating, and 4) anthropometric measures. This study was a pre- and post- test evaluation of nutrition, physical activity and anthropometrics after the intervention with Latinos (n=82). Results indicated a significant increase in physical activity (t(75) = -6.35, p< .01). For nutrition, there was a significant increase in knowledge (t(59) = -2.58, p = .01); and improved behavior (t(71) = -5.33, p<.01). In addition, waist circumference decreased (t(73)= 5.66, p<.01); body fat percentage decreased (t(71)= 2.50; p=.02); and BMI decreased (t(75)= 3.31, p<.01).