An integrated cardiometabolic intervention targeting physical and financial health: A pilot study
Amber Kinsey, Ph.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Behavioral and socioeconomic circumstances can negatively influence health outcomes. For instance, not engaging in enough physical activity or having limited financial resources contributes to the development of cardiometabolic risk factors including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Certain groups, such as those living in the South, Black adults, and under-resourced populations experience higher and unique barriers that affect the ability (e.g., knowledge, skills) and opportunity (e.g., access to exercise environments, social supports) to engage in physical activity and increase their resources to improve health.
This study seeks to understand these factors to develop an intervention that focuses on improving both physical health and financial wellbeing among Black adults with cardiometabolic risks factors who are of low-to-moderate income. To our knowledge, it is the first study of its kind. We focus on improving physical health through resistance exercise (RE, e.g., strength training). RE provides health benefits similar to aerobic physical activity (e.g., brisk walking, running) and may overcome some of the additional and unique PA barriers that Black adults with limited financial resources experience (e.g., cost, safety concerns, hair management, racial profiling). Because RE can be performed in flexible environments, including the home, it is a low-cost and convenient strategy to encourage PA. We focus on improving financial health by strengthening financial capability (the capacity to achieve financial well-being). Financial capability is an underlying factor that influences economic hardships (e.g., food, housing insecurity), and enhancing financial capability can improve risk behaviors, income, health outcomes, and quality of life. For this project we will partner with the I3 Academy in the Woodlawn Community in Birmingham, AL, to recruit parents of students enrolled at the school and leveraging the school environment for project implementation.
We also partner with MedsPLUS Consulting LLC to conduct clinical health screenings. The proposed trial has potential to be a promising, efficient, and sustainable strategy that, in the long-term as this work progress, may induce positive ripple effects to improve life circumstances and health outcomes of Black and under-resourced populations.
