Pilot Study of the Feasibility of a Worksite Plant-Based Diabetes Prevention Program

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a worksite diabetes prevention program―Beat Diabetes―on the basis of a plant-based diet and encouragement of physical activity. Methods: This was a mixed-methods pilot study using a 1-group pretest‒post-test design. The participants were university employees. A 13-week group-based intervention adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program to emphasize a plant-based diet and on the basis of the Health Action Process Approach. Program implementation and participant acceptability were assessed through surveys, weekly documentation of the process, and individual interviews. Consumption of healthy and less healthy plant-based foods and animal-based foods, physical activity, and Health Action Process Approach‒based psychosocial determinants were measured through questionnaires before and after the program, as was blood glucose. Weights were measured weekly. Results: A total of 14 participants were enrolled, with 93% retention. Program implementation was feasible and highly acceptable to participants and also resulted in significant improvements in weight, healthy relative to less healthy plant-based and animal-based foods, vigorous physical activity, blood glucose, and psychosocial determinants of behavior change. Conclusions: On the basis of our pilot study, conducting a worksite plant-based diabetes prevention program was feasible and acceptable and elicited positive changes in physiologic, behavioral, and psychosocial variables related to the risk of diabetes.

Keywords

• Diabetes
• prevention
• plant-based
• diet
• lifestyle