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Background Latinos living in emerging communities (i.e., nontraditional destinations with a small but growing population) face obstacles to their mental and physical health. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 6-month, promotor-led intervention on access to care, physical activity, dietary practices, and perceived social support among Latino adults living in an emerging community, compared with a nonrandomly assigned control group. Method Participants ( n = 81 intervention; n = 86 control) were drawn from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Promotores used an intervention tool offering nondirective social support to assist participants in developing SMART goals to address their life concerns in eight domains (e.g., social, diet, and exercise/recreation); the control group received printed materials. Participants completed a survey in Spanish at baseline and follow-up to assess outcomes and had their height and weight measured. Adjusted linear mixed effects models compared change in outcomes over time. Results There was a marginally significant improvement in dietary practices in the intervention group at follow-up, and no change in access to care. Both groups experienced an improvement in social support. There was a significant intervention-by-time interaction such that the intervention group increased physical activity by 259 minutes/week compared with the control group. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential effectiveness of a promotores network in assisting individuals living in an emerging Latino community to address their life concerns and improve health behaviors. Future studies should include objective and more rigorous measures with a larger sample to replicate these results.

This analysis examined whether a community-based intervention produced measurable improvements in dietary habits. MOVE UP combined translational, evidence-based weight management and healthy aging interventions using a non-randomized design. This 13-month intervention included 32 group sessions, explicit calorie and physical activity goals, self-monitoring, and nutrition education. Participants were ( N = 297) older adults (mean = 68.0 years) with overweight and obesity. Diet was measured using Rate Your Plate (RYP)-Heart. Changes in scores from baseline to 5, 9, and 13 months were assessed using mixed models. MOVE UP successfully shifted eating patterns from baseline (mean = 50.9) to 5 months (mean = 55.1) ( p < .0001) adjusted for age, sex, and race. Improvements persisted through 9 (mean = 54.7) and 13 months (mean = 55.0) ( p < .0001). Although participants were not prescribed a specific diet, RYP-Heart indicated positive dietary shifts. Community-implemented behavioral weight loss interventions may assess the modifiability of dietary habits with a simple, easy-to-administer tool.