Helping Latino faith communities support adult Latinas to be more active
Enhancing capacity in faith-based organizations to implement and sustain multilevel innovations to improve physical activity
This project trains church leaders and community health workers in Latino faith communities to deliver and sustain programs that help adult Latinas increase physical activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11371436 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project partners with churches and other faith-based organizations to adapt a proven physical activity program so it fits each congregation. Leaders and promotoras (community health workers) receive training, tailored messaging, and support to run the program for 12 months with a 6-month follow-up. The team will test additional strategies to keep programs running long-term by strengthening local collaborations and offering technical help. The effort uses a clustered randomized design across diverse faith sites and measures both organization-level changes and individual activity and weight outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult Latina women who attend or participate in programs at participating faith-based organizations are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not attend faith-based organizations, men, younger teens, or those unable to be physically active due to severe mobility limitations are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could have easier access to lasting, church-based programs that help increase physical activity and lower risk for obesity and chronic disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous church-based programs like Faith in Action have improved activity among Latinas, but expanding them across many congregations and keeping them going long-term has been less tested.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arredondo, Elva M — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Arredondo, Elva M
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.