Healthy Diet Research Articles

Effectiveness of the CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child’s Health) Rainbow Program in Elementary Schools for Change in Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Background: Nutrition, cooking, and gardening lessons individually and together have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in school-aged children. The CATCH Rainbow program incorporated nutrition education, cooking, and gardening lessons aimed at increasing FV consumption in elementary school-aged children and assessed changes in participants’ BMI, self-reported FV consumption, and skin carotenoid levels at baseline and post-intervention. Methods: Two-hundred and twenty-five 4th and 5th graders (mean age: 9.8 years and 52% male participants) at Genoa Elementary School participated in six cooking and six gardening sessions between September 2021 and May 2022. Each nutrition education session was 25 min long, paired with either hands-on cooking activities or gardening skills. At baseline and post-intervention, participants’ height and weight were assessed with a stadiometer/scale, and skin carotenoid measurement was taken by a Veggie Meter® (Longevity Link Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT, USA)). Students also completed the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire to self-report FV consumption at both time points. Focus groups were conducted with children at the end of the program for qualitative feedback. Results: paired samples T-test and regression analysis results indicate no significant decrease in BMI or significant increase in skin carotenoid scores from pre- to post-intervention. However, though not significant, there was an increase in self-reported FV intake by 0.4 servings. Additionally, the qualitative feedback was positive, as children mentioned benefits of healthy eating and expressed enjoyment for growing, cooking, and tasting fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: Results from this study can be used to guide future cooking and gardening programs for elementary school children. Time of the year when implementing these programs and collecting data may impact study outcomes due to seasonal variations in fruit and vegetable intake.

Huangjing is not only a good medicine but also an affordable healthy diet.

Huangjing is not only a good medicine but also an affordable healthy diet.

Maternal dietary practices during pregnancy and obesity of neonates: a machine learning approach towards hierarchical and nested relationships in a Tibet Plateau cohort study.

Studies on obesity and risk factors from a life-course perspective among residents in the Tibet Plateau with recent economic growth and increasing obesity are important and urgently needed. The birth cohort in this area provides a unique opportunity to examine the association between maternal dietary practice and neonatal obesity. The study aims to detect the prevalence of obesity among neonates, associated with maternal diet and other factors, supporting life-course strategies for obesity control. A cohort of pregnant women was enrolled in Tibet Plateau and followed till childbirth. Dietary practice during pregnancy was assessed using the Chinese FFQ - Tibet Plateau version, food items and other variables were associated with the risk for obesity of neonates followed by logistic regression, classification and regression trees (CART) and random forest. Of the total 1226 mother-neonate pairs, 40·5 % were Tibetan and 5·4 % of neonates with obesity. Consuming fruits as a protective factor for obesity of neonates with OR (95 % CI) = 0·61 (0·43, 0·87) from logistic regression; as well as OR = 0·20 (0·12, 0·35) for consuming fruits (≥ weekly) from CART. Removing fruit consumption to avoid overshadowing effects of other factors, the following were influential from CART: maternal education (more than middle school, OR = 0·22 (0·13, 0·37)) and consumption of Tibetan food (daily, OR = 3·44 (2·08, 5·69). Obesity among neonates is prevalent in the study population. Promoting healthy diets during pregnancy and strengthening maternal education should be part of the life-course strategies for obesity control.

Exploring China's food security evolution from a local perspective

Local food self-sufficiency is a feasible path to make up for supply chain dependence caused by food system globalization. However, despite policies advocating food localization, China's current trends, such as the imbalance between food supply and nutritional demand and the mismatch between production space and consumption space, gradually restrict the sustainability of food security. This study analyzes China's local food security from 2000 to 2020 around the multi-dimensionality of supply, acquisition, and demand. Results show that regional differentiation of China's staple food self-sufficiency has become more significant. As a result, food supply capacity in rapidly urbanizing areas has weakened, and mountainous and underdeveloped areas are difficult to be self-sufficient. Fortunately, staple foods in China are highly accessible, and urban with a population of less than 50,000 have the best food transportation security. Overall, aging and scale management greatly affect China's food system, which currently can resist sudden natural disasters. In the future, decision-makers should focus on urban resources integration and rural land consolidation and realize sustainable food system transition by optimizing the local supply-demand structure through central planning based on popular science and healthy diet structure.

Examining the effect of nudging on college students' behavioral engagement and willingness to participate in online courses.

Nudging is a subtle behavioral intervention that has been successful in various domains such as healthy eating and energy conservation, yet its application in mental health remains underexplored. This study examines the effect of nudging to increase engagement with online mental health resources in a university setting. We assigned 2539 first-year undergraduate and graduate students in China to either a nudging group, which received course information augmented with behavioral cues (including framing effects and social norms), or a control group, which received only basic course information. Outcomes measured included self-reported willingness to enroll, willingness to recommend enrollment, and actual enrollment actions. Results indicated that students in the nudging group demonstrated significantly higher engagement levels than those in the control group across all metrics. These findings suggest the potential of nudging strategies to effectively enhance college students' participation in online mental health education.

Health Attitudes of Women Living in Religious Communities-A Preliminary Study.

Members of consecrated life communities exhibit homogeneity with regard to factors that are relevant to health, including diet, daily activities, religiosity, and housing. This may be indicative of the manner in which the community influences the formation of the health-seeking attitudes of its members. The objective of this study was to validate a survey about health awareness and health-seeking attitudes among consecrated people and to identify potential issues to be improved. In addition, the study aspires to provide insights into the lifestyles of consecrated persons in Poland, based on the results of the survey and available data. The study group included 27 female participants, members of societies of apostolic life and non-habitual apostolic religious congregations of the Roman Catholic Church. The participants were invited to express their comments and suggestions on the survey, with the purpose of validating the survey before using it as a tool for a larger study. All participants agreed that nutrition, rest, and physical activity had a significant impact on health. A total of 89% of participants considered their lifestyle as healthy and a similar proportion indicated that living in a consecrated community had a positive impact on their health, with the most positive influence of factors related to spiritual exercise, rhythm of the day, and sense of interpersonal connection within the community. Approximately 44% of participants indicated that their attitude was based on a healthy diet and adequate sleep quality. However, they identified an existing need to improve the balance between work and rest. Additionally, 4% of respondents admitted irregular eating habits, ignoring quality of alimentary products, non-satisfactory rest time, and insufficient sleep. Even though the purpose of this study was only to validate a survey predestined for a larger study, it already gives an insight into the level of awareness of health behavior and lifestyle of residents of religious communities.

In-vitro antidiabetic activity of ethanolic extract from Khla (Schumannianthus dichotomus Roxb.) rhizome.

Schumannianthus dichotomus Roxb. in Thai, namely “Khla,” is notably distributed in South and South-East Asia regions. In Thai traditional medicine, rhizome has a bland taste, and after decoction, it is used to reduce body heat and fever and treatment of skin diseases. Recently, the methanolic extract of rhizome had reported the hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities in mice. Aims of this study were conducted to determine the nutritional value of rhizome and to evaluate α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibitory activities of ethanol extract from the rhizome (KE). The rhizome had a high content of dietary fiber and iron, while it was low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Thus, it can become an ingredient of a healthy diet. The total phenolic content of KE contained 229.8 ± 6.23 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g. There was strongly inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.11 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and comparable with the antidiabetic drug acarbose (IC50 = 0.10 ± 0.03 mg/mL). Therefore, KE was slightly inhibited by α-amylase (IC50 = 0.42 ± 0.05 mg/mL), when compared with acarbose (IC50 = 0.016 ± 0.001 mg/mL). Thus, the phytochemicals of different extracts are necessary to be identified. Therefore, the advance techniques were the limitation of our study.

Risk-benefit assessment of foods and its role to inform policy decisions: outcome of an international workshop.

Policy decisions in public health require consideration and evaluation of trade-offs for which transparency and science-based evidence is needed. Improvement of decision-support tools is essential to help guide food policy decisions that promote healthy diets and meet the challenges of food systems without compromising food security, food safety, and sovereignty. Risk-benefit assessment of foods (RBA) is an established methodological approach designed to inform policy decisions within the area of nutrition and food safety. Despite methodological developments, translation of RBA findings into policies is still limited. In this context, a stakeholder workshop held in May 2023 gathered RBA experts and food regulators from Europe to identify the challenges, obstacles and opportunities in using evidence generated through RBAs to inform food policy decisions. A structured process was implemented to collect their views through online surveys, breakout groups, and plenary discussions. As a secondary objective, food regulators' views on other approaches for holistic risk assessment fit for food systems analysis were also explored. This paper summarizes the main findings of the workshop and discusses policy implications and future perspectives to improve the area of RBA and its role in food policymaking.

Nutrition and Osteoporosis Prevention.

Osteoporosis affects 50% of women and 20% of men after the age of 50. Fractures are associated with significant morbidity, increased mortality and altered quality of life. Lifestyle measures for fragility fracture prevention include good nutrition including adequate protein and calcium intakes, vitamin D sufficiency, and regular weight bearing physical exercise. Dietary protein is one of the most important nutritional considerations as it affects bone mineral density, trabecular and cortical microstructure, and bone strength. When calcium intake is sufficient, higher dietary protein intake is associated with lower risk of fracture. Dairy products are a valuable source of calcium and high quality protein. Dairy product consumption, particularly fermented dairy products, are associated with a lower risk of hip fracture and vegan diets are associated with increased fracture risk. Other dietary factors associated with reduced fracture risk include at least 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables, regular tea drinking, adherence to a Mediterranean diet and other dietary patterns which provide fibers, polyphenols and fermented dairy products. Such dietary patterns may confer health benefits through their effect on gut microbiota composition and/or function. A balanced diet including minerals, protein, fruits and vegetables is an important element in the prevention of osteoporosis and of fragility fracture.

A conversational agent for enhanced Self-Management after cardiothoracic surgery

BackgroundEnhanced self-management is crucial for long-term survival following cardiothoracic surgery. ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop a conversational agent to enhance patient self-management after cardiothoracic surgery. MethodologyThe solution was designed and implemented following the Design Science Research Methodology. A pilot study was conducted at the hospital to assess the feasibility, usability, and perceived effectiveness of the solution. Feedback was gathered to inform further interactions. Additionally, a focus group with clinicians was conducted to evaluate the acceptability of the solution, integrating insights from the pilot study. ResultsThe conversational agent, implemented using a rule-based model, was successfully tested with patients in the cardiothoracic surgery unit (n = 4). Patients received one month of text messages reinforcing clinical team recommendations on a healthy diet and regular physical activity. The system received a high usability score, and two patients suggested adding a feature to answer user prompts for future improvements. The focus group feedback indicated that while the solution met the initial requirements, further testing with a larger patient cohort is necessary to establish personalized profiles. Moreover, clinicians recommended that future iterations prioritize enhanced personalization and interoperability with other hospital platforms. Additionally, while the use of artificial generative intelligence was seen as relevant for content personalization, clinicians expressed concerns regarding content safety, highlighting the necessity for rigorous testing. ConclusionsThis study marks a significant step towards enhancing post-cardiothoracic surgery care through conversational agents. The integration of a diversity of stakeholder knowledge enriches the solution, grants ownership and ensures its sustainability. Future research should focus on automating message generation and delivery based on patient data and environmental factors. While the integration of artificial generative intelligence holds promise for enhancing patient interaction, ensuring the safety of its content is essential.

Correlation between diet, body mass index, and lipid profile in Kosovar women treated for primary infertility

The increasing prevalence of female fertility requires the identification of potentially modifiable factors and non-pharmacological treatments. There is strong evidence that healthy preconception dietary patterns of women of reproductive age have a beneficial effect on fertility. In accordance with the hypothesis, the aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of diet on overweight and obesity in infertile women as well as the correlation of serum lipid concentration by making a comparison between three observed groups with different body mass index (BMI). A total of 107 women who were treated for infertility were investigated. Diet and food pattern survey, BMI, and lipidogram determination from venous blood samples were carried out. The determination of lipidogram parameters was carried out by enzymatic colorimetric test with the COBAS INTEGRA 400 apparatus. From the total number of patients included in the study (107), infertile women with abnormal BMI accounted for 26.16%, while fertile women with normal BMI accounted for 73.83% (p<0.001). The total cholesterol value for groups with BMI>25 kg/m2 was 6.78 mmol/L (p=0.031). High triglycerides with increased BMI were observed (2.27 mmol/L versus 2.68 mmol/L) (p=0.028). Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol had higher concentrations in obese women (n=28), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol had lower concentrations in women with BMI>25 km2 (p<0.05). Western dietary patterns of nutrition results in obesity and increased BMI values in infertile women. Increased BMI has a positive correlation with lipid profile in obese infertile women.

Measuring Food Insecurity in Children under 5 Years of Age with Acute Undernutrition in Valle Del Cauca-Colombia.

Our objective was to assess food insecurity among children under 5 years old with moderate, and severe malnutrition from Valle del Cauca, a state located in the southwestern region of Colombia. A descriptive observational study was conducted, including children whose weight-for-height (W/H) indicator was below 2 SD, as recorded on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts, or who exhibited severe malnutrition phenotypes such as marasmus or Kwashiorkor. Family and child food security were evaluated using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). 58.6% of households with acutely malnourished children experienced food insecurity. A statistically significant relationship was found between food insecurity and children of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous descent. According to caregivers' perceptions, 30.2% of child malnutrition cases were related to poor feeding and caregiving practices. Not all children with acute malnutrition suffer from food insecurity. Therefore, the findings of this research suggest that governmental efforts should focus not only on ensuring food availability, but also on educating caregivers about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet tailored to the specific characteristics of each region and promoting appropriate caregiving practices.

Correlation of mediterranean diet pattern and lifestyle factors with semen quality of men attending fertility clinics: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundWhile numerous studies have examined the impact of individual or combined nutrients on semen quality, research on the correlation between overall dietary patterns and semen quality remains limited. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between adherence to the alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED) and semen quality. MethodsA total of 274 men, presenting with both normal and abnormal semen parameters, participated in this study. Dietary data were collected using a 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants were divided into three groups based on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (T1, T2, and T3). Statistical analyses, including ANOVA for numerical data and Chi-square tests for categorical data, were conducted. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to estimate the association between aMED scores and abnormal semen parameters. ResultsParticipants in the highest adherence group (T3) were younger and had lower BMI compared to those in the other tertiles. Significant differences in sperm parameters were observed across the tertiles. T3 recorded the highest levels of sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology (57.53 ± 36.16, 213.8 ± 158.9, 73.4 ± 25.9, 61.2 ± 24.6, and 6.42 ± 1.51, respectively), whereas T1 had the lowest values (11.92 ± 22.29, 43.3 ± 73.8, 36.7 ± 33.8, 4.6 ± 5.7, respectively). No significant differences were found in semen volume and viscosity. The regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between aMED scores and sperm concentration (B = 1.32, P = 0.001), total sperm count (B = 1.12, P = 0.001), and total motility (B = 0.71, P = 0.001). ConclusionAdherence to a high-quality Mediterranean diet is positively associated with improved semen quality and increased male fertility potential. Promoting healthy dietary patterns may be an effective strategy to enhance sperm motility and overall male reproductive health.

Slovenia’s Food-Based Dietary Guidelines 2024: Eating for Health and the Planet

The dietary guidelines of Slovenia, ‘12 Steps to Healthy Eating’, were first published in 2000 and revised in 2011. The ‘Food Guide Pyramid’ was initially published in 2000 and subsequently revised in 2015. ‘The Healthy Plate’ was first introduced in 2007. In February 2023, the Slovenian Strategic Council for Nutrition proposed new Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) that integrate both health and environmental considerations. In September 2023, the creation of new FBDGs was included in the Action Plan for implementing the Resolution on the National Program on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health 2015–2025. In October 2023, the Ministry of Health of Slovenia appointed the core working group of 10 multidisciplinary experts from fields such as nutrition, food science medicine, public health, environment, pharmacy, and agriculture led by Prof. Dr. Nataša Fidler Mis, who drafted the guidelines. In February 2024, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe organized a virtual international workshop to assist Slovenia in developing food-based dietary guidelines. In May 2024, an international expert meeting was organized by the Ministry of Health of Slovenia, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate, and Energy, and the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia to present the first scientific draft of the SLO FBDG for external international peer review. The meeting included lectures from world-leading experts to present healthy diets from sustainable food systems, integrate climate and sustainability aspects into the new SLO FBDG, discuss the findings with the Slovenian core working group, extended working group of the SLO FBDG, and invited experts. The final version of SLO FBDG is expected to be released by the end of 2024.

Structural characterization of polysaccharides from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer root and their triggered potential immunoregulatory and radioprotective activities

With people's increasing awareness of healthy diet, the diverse health-promoting functions of ginseng have been widely recognized. As one of the key functional components, ginseng polysaccharides have attracted increasing research interest. Here, three purified polysaccharide fractions, GPS-1a, GPS-1b, and GPS-2, were obtained from the root extract of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Structurally, GPS-1a and GPS-1b were both linked in a → 6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → pattern but composed of glucose and galactose in molar ratios of 9.76:0.24 and 9.81:0.19. In contrast, GPS-2 was composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 1.82:1.94:0.79:0.52:4.93. The main backbone consisted of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-6OMe-(1→, →3, 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →3)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → linages, and its branches are composed of →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →4)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →2)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, α-D-GalAp-(1→. Benefitting from this structural variance, GPS-2 exhibited the most significant immunoregulatory and radioprotective efficacies. Specifically, GPS-2 promoted TLR2, NF-κB, and TRAF6 protein expression levels, thereby significantly improving macrophage phagocytosis, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and stimulation of NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion, which activated RAW264.7 and splenic lymphocytes. The following radioprotection activity tests unveiled that GPS-2 increased the organ index, number of peripheral blood cells, cellularity of splenocytes, and bone marrow cell numbers in irradiated mice. This investigation revealed the contribution of polysaccharide structure characteristics to the bioactive expression and elucidated the potential utilization of GPS-2 as a radioprotective agent or immunomodulator.

The Effects of Nutrition, Health, Psychological and Socio Economic Factors on Precocious Puberty in Girls

Early puberty or precocious puberty in girls, characterized by the beginning of puberty before turning 8, is a growing concern worldwide. This research paper explores the multifactorial influences of nutrition, health, psychological stressors, and socio-economic factors on the incidence of early puberty in girls. By examining existing literature, the paper highlights the complex interactions among these elements and provides insights into potential interventions. An understanding of these factors is crucial for developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Recommendations are made to promote balanced diets, improve healthcare access, provide psychological support, and address socio-economic disparities to mitigate the risk of precocious puberty and its associated health consequences.

Compliance of the Jordanian Population with the Protective Measures during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic; A Nation-Wide Survey

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread globally, with over 695 million confirmed cases and 6.9 million deaths as of September 2023. Compliance with protective measures is considered essential to combat the pandemic. Objectives: To assess the adherence of the Jordanian population to preventive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey specifically focused on the habits and practices of Jordanians during the pandemic, as mentioned in the introductory sentence of the Google Forms questionnaire. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in Jordan aged 18 and above using an online questionnaire distributed from March to July 2022. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: demographic characteristics and practice-related questions. Data were collected using Google Forms and analyzed using R Statistical Software. Results: Most of the 409 participants were under 30 years old (65.5%), female (70%), and held a college diploma or higher degree (80%). Around 57% had been infected with COVID-19 at least once, while 60% had a relative, friend, or colleague who died due to COVID-19. More than half of the participants (54%) demonstrated favorable practices. The multivariate analysis revealed that a previous COVID-19 infection significantly increased the odds of having favorable practices (OR=2.44; CI[1.59-3.77]; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study evaluated how Jordanians adhered to COVID-19 preventive measures during the pandemic. It was found that roughly half of the population effectively followed precautions such as using masks and hand sanitizers, although adherence to a balanced diet was less frequent. The likelihood of taking precautions increased after having had COVID-19. The study also reported high vaccine acceptance rates. These findings underscore the importance of public adherence to preventive measures, especially in areas like nutrition, and provide insights for future pandemic responses.

Integrating health screening for non-communicable diseases into dental services: what do we know?

This narrative review describes the impetus for health screening for non-communicable diseases in dental settings and highlights important considerations for evaluating such interventions. Real world cases are presented that showcase health screening interventions implemented in the UK. Non-communicable diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease are a global public health challenge. They are largely preventable by implementing lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and participation in physical activity, regular health screening for disease prevention, and/or early initiation of treatment. Hypertension case finding and control is one of the key five areas of focus for adult health, and oral health and diabetes are two of five key clinical areas for children and young people where efforts should be focused to intervene, improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. Links between oral and chronic diseases have been discussed in recent years. Therefore, screening for diabetes and cardiovascular disease has become of greater relevance to the dental profession. There is emerging evidence indicating that screening for the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in dental settings shows promise for improving health outcomes and may offer a cost-effective preventive approach for the detection of diabetes. Real-world services implementing health screening in dental settings have highlighted possibilities for the future and highlight the potential for the role of the dental team in detecting chronic diseases.

Sea Vegetables: An Alternative Food Source: A Review

Seaweeds or sea vegetables are the non-traditional vegetables largely produced and consumed by China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and other island countries. They are rich in essential nutrients, including minerals, vitamins, amino acids etc. making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet. Moreover, they have low caloric content and are free from cholesterol, essential for weight management and heart-healthy diets. Additionally, sea vegetables contain unique bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Globally the demand for seaweed as vegetables along with its several value-added products are increasing day by day. The cultivation of seaweed is cost effective as it does not require seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, no freshwater and arable land. Sea vegetables can serve as bio filters by absorbing excess nutrients from aquatic ecosystems, thus promoting environmental sustainability in coastal aquatic system. To combat hunger, achieve food security and protect the environment, it is crucial to create public awareness on the health benefits and nutritional value of sea vegetables. More in-depth research and developments are required to commercialize, explore the diversity of sea vegetables, develop innovative culinary applications and establishment of quality and safety standards. The present review works highlights a comprehensive overview of seaweed diversity, nutritional composition, health benefits, diverse uses, cultivation methods and potential for developing processed products for food and agricultural industry.

Abstract A111: Leveraging African American women as change agents to reduce obesity-related breast cancer risk: An evaluation of a network-based pilot intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet

Abstract BACKGROUND: Obesity is a key risk factor for breast cancer (BC) incidence, recurrence, and mortality among post-menopausal African American (AA) women. Many older AA women are likely to report fewer healthy dietary behaviors, and those who are overweight or obese are likely to share similar dietary patterns as their social networks (SNs). AA women are also likely to receive information on BC risk from their SNs. Thus, AA women who share information on healthy dietary behaviors are well-positioned to become change agents toward reducing obesity and improving BC outcomes among their SNs. This presents a novel opportunity to increase the impact of evidence-based (EB) interventions focused on reducing obesity-related BC risk. This study aimed to assess the effects of the MedDiet-SN pilot intervention among participants trained as change agents to improve obesity-related BC risk reduction behaviors for themselves and their SNs through EB information sharing. Methods: MedDiet-SN was a 10-week, pre-/post- pilot intervention promoting the uptake of the Mediterranean diet, with participant training on effective EB information sharing. A community-based participant advisory board informed the pilot. Study procedures were IRB approved. Eligible participants were AA women, ≥60 years old, overweight or obese, Chicago area residents, and with no severe health conditions. Sixteen women participated, and 30 of their SN members (age ≥18 years) were recruited through participant referral. Predictors included time from pre- to post-study and session dosage for participants, and participant EB information sharing on healthy eating for SN members. Outcomes for both groups included BC and diet knowledge, dietary change attitudes (motivation, self-efficacy), dietary behavior change, and BMI. EB information sharing on healthy eating was an additional outcome for participants. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess outcomes. Results: In crude and adjusted time models, participants showed improved knowledge, behavior change, BMI, and EB information sharing (p<0.05). In adjusted dosage models, participants showed improved knowledge, attitudes, and EB information sharing (p<0.05). SN members showed improved attitudes and behavior change based on participant EB information sharing on healthy eating (p<0.05). In addition, there was a high concordance between participant EB information sharing and SN EB information learned (>70%). CONCLUSION: This research is innovative in that it 1) shows the effectiveness of a network-based intervention promoting healthy dietary behaviors for obesity-related BC risk reduction among AA women, 2) supports the value of scaling up interventions by leveraging participants as change agents for EB information sharing among SNs, and 3) provides a contribution to emerging research on positive intervention spillover effects to SNs. It is anticipated that results from this study will inform the development of future network-based interventions that aim to reduce obesity-related BC risk and improve health outcomes for AA women. Citation Format: Nyahne Bergeron, Mona Strahan, Patricia Hardmon, Marja Stanford- Leak, Anita Stevens, Annie Young, Devyanne Ward, Lois White, Eunhye Lee, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Marian Fitzgibbon, Yamilé Molina. Leveraging African American women as change agents to reduce obesity-related breast cancer risk: An evaluation of a network-based pilot intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A111.