Healthy Soul Food Program with Vegan Options for Weight Loss
Expanding the reach of the Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) program: A Type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial
This three-month program pairs live online cooking and nutrition classes with restaurant vouchers to help African American adults with overweight or obesity improve their diet and lose weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309087 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a three-month, remotely delivered program that focuses on healthier versions of familiar soul food, with an emphasis on plant-based (vegan) meals. Participants (about 228 people) are randomly assigned to either weekly live online classes plus restaurant vouchers or to receive restaurant vouchers only. The study measures changes in body weight and diet quality to see which approach leads to better heart-health outcomes. Local vegan soul food restaurants are partnered to provide accessible meal options and vouchers for participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American adults with overweight or obesity who are not already following a vegan diet and who can participate in remote classes and use local restaurant vouchers.
Not a fit: People who already follow a vegan diet, those with normal weight, or those who cannot attend remote sessions or redeem local vouchers are less likely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help participants lose weight and improve diet quality, lowering risks tied to heart disease and diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: A prior NEW Soul trial with 159 African American participants run at the university showed significant three-month weight loss, so this approach has shown promise in earlier work.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turner-Mcgrievy, Gabrielle Michelle — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Turner-Mcgrievy, Gabrielle Michelle
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.