The School of Nursing’s Green Wellness Program: Plants-2-Plate is seeking adult research participants using group medical appointments. The group shared medical appointments (SMAs) will take place on May 24, 2023 over a span of six months. Individual and SMAs will be billed through insurance with co-pays and/or deductibles being responsible to the patient. For uninsured patients, the study will cover the costs of study visits, treatments, and procedures.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) program using SMAs on reducing cardiovascular risk factors and weight loss in overweight/obese adults with at least one chronic disease in 6-months.
Research participants will be provided with a mobile health device to self-monitor diet, physical activity, and sleep pattern. A small monetary compensation will be provided to each participant. Participants will have blood drawn for the study three times during the study.
Available cohort sessions:
- Cohort 7: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. from May 24 – November 9, 2023
- Cohort 8 Wednesdays 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. from June 7 – November 29, 2023 (Tentative)
- Cohort 9 Wednesdays 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. June 21 – December 13, 2023 (Tentative)
Participants enrolled in the program are challenged to follow a whole food, plant-based nutrition plan, and will learn how to adopt a healthy lifestyle and eating pattern centered around foods that come primarily from plants, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and legumes. The program encourages a strong support system through in-person SMA sessions that will allow participants to build accountability, trade recipes, and learn from each other.
In addition to nutrition planning, participants are also coached on ways to reduce stress through meditation, proper sleep, yoga and journaling. The program team members include a registered nurse, nurse practitioner and registered dietitian who are experts in plant-based nutrition and wellness.
Those interested in joining the research study can inquire here or email benavidesh@uthscsa.edu