A recent study looked at whether in-person group sessions or eHealth communications could help Latina breast cancer survivors eat better and be more active. The study included 167 Latina breast cancer survivors in New York City. They were split into groups: some attended in-person sessions with nutrition and fitness classes, cooking demos, and social activities; others received motivational texts, emails, and website access; some got both; and a control group received only a Fitbit and one-on-one health coaching.
After 12 months, the women who attended in-person sessions increased their daily fruit and vegetable intake by 10%. In contrast, the control group's intake dropped by 44%. That's a 96% difference between the groups, which was statistically significant. However, physical activity results were mixed: the control group actually increased their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by 53%, while the in-person plus eHealth group decreased by 34%. No significant changes were seen in energy density of food or weight.
It's important to note that this is a single study with a relatively small sample. The findings suggest that in-person group support may help Latina breast cancer survivors improve their diet, but more research is needed to understand how to best support sustained healthy changes. The study did not report any safety concerns or side effects. Overall, this research points to the potential value of community-based programs for this population, but it is not yet practice-changing.