Nutritional Intervention May Change Physical Activity Levels In Latino Families: A Cluster Randomized Control Trial

Introduction: Nutrition and physical activity (PA) are key components for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. There remains a paucity of longitudinal data on the role of specific nutritional interventions and how they may impact PA levels, particularly in Latino populations. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that high allocation of avocados in Latino families would result in higher PA levels, measured as metabolic equivalent minutes per week (MET-min/wk) . Methods: A total of 72 Latino families (235 participants, 150 women) in San Diego, CA, were randomized to low- or high-avocado allocation (3/family/wk or 14/family/wk, respectively). A 14-day run-in period was utilized to demonstrate adherence. MET-min/wk PA measures (total, occupational, recreational, transportation) were assessed at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months via the validated global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) (moderate PA, 4 METs; vigorous PA, 8 METs). Using ANCOVA, we compared mean differences in longitudinal PA measures. Results: Randomization assigned 35 families to high-allocation (0% attrition throughout) and 37 to low-allocation (8% attrition at 3 months, 16% attrition at 6-months) with no significant difference in baseline PA. While mean total PA in the low-allocation group declined over the 6-month trial period, the inverse appeared true for the high-allocation group (Figure). Compared to low-allocation, the mean total PA between baseline to 6-months was 2,154.75 MET-min/wk higher in the high-allocation group (p=0.001), and specifically that of moderate and vigorous occupational PA being 979.25 and 898.17 MET-min/wk higher in the high-allocation group (p=0.003 and 0.037), respectively. No significant differences were found for recreational or transportation PA. Meaning: In this trial, and compared with a lower allocation, higher allocation of avocados was associated with significant increases in longitudinal PA measures. Further studies are warranted to assess the role of dietary interventions on changes in PA.