The Optimizing Lifestyles through Increased Vegetable-Rich Eating (OLIVE) study is examining the effectiveness of a 4-week virtual program using grocery provision on improving diet quality and reducing body weight. The intervention will last for 4 weeks and participants will be randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: (1) receive weekly grocery delivery only or (2) receive weekly grocery delivery and attend weekly nutrition and cooking classes. Participants will receive recipes, group support, and guidance for following their assigned diet based on culturally tailored curriculum for individuals living in the southern United States. 

Free Instacart grocery delivery, nutrition and cooking classes, recipes, a support system, and diet quality survey results at the end of the study. If you complete the post-study survey and participate in a focus group, you’ll receive an electronic $10.00 gift card.

You may lose weight and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by being a part of this study. You will receive cooking classes and learn how to prepare healthy meals.

You must:

• Be between the ages of 18 – 65 years
• Have a body mass index (BMI) between 25–49.9 kg/m² (have overweight or obesity)
• Live in a southern state (as classified by the US Census):
  • Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Viginia, & West Virginia
• Be available to attend all study meetings over a 4-week period via computer or phone
• Have a wi-fi connection at home or other site to access Zoom-delivered interventions
• Own a digital body weight scale, have regular access, or be willing to purchase one
• Not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant over the course of the study
• Be free of type 2 diabetes and/or not currently taking prescription medication to control type 2 diabetes
• Be willing to be randomized to either of the 2 study groups (this means you won’t have a choice in which group you are assigned to)
• Not currently following a vegan, vegetarian, or Mediterranean diet

You can calculate your BMI online with this online calculator: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

Only one person per household can participate in the study as a research participant, but you are free to share all your class materials with friends and family.

This study will last for a total of 6 weeks (orientation and baseline assessment measures will be taken in week 1, followed by 4 weeks of the intervention, and ending in a focus group during week 6) and will therefore require a short-term commitment. Participants randomized to the grocery delivery and classes group will be required to regularly attend evening Zoom classes (one 75-minute class a week for 4 weeks), and participants in both groups will be required to complete a variety of surveys.

You will receive an Instacart grocery delivery and a selection of Mediterranean recipes once a week for 4 weeks. Each grocery delivery will contain up to $25 worth of food items that correspond with the provided Mediterranean recipes. You will also be asked to complete a weekly survey on food quality.

Participants randomly assigned to the grocery delivery and classes group will attend virtual Zoom classes to learn more about the Mediterranean diet and receive the support you need to adopt healthier eating habits. The classes will include cooking skills, recipe ideas, and guidance for following the Mediterranean diet.

You will submit self-reported weight measurements using a personal body weight scale. These self-reported weigh ins will be at the following time points: baseline and 4 weeks.

You will also be completing several questionnaires at each time point: baseline and 4 weeks. You will complete the online questionnaires and online dietary recalls at home. The questionnaires will assess demographic information, socioeconomic status variables (such as food security status), and dietary acceptance. The dietary recalls are online surveys that ask you to select photographs of food and beverage items that best align with your personal eating behaviors. You will be directed to an online database that allows you to report your selections.

No. Because this study is using random assignment, participants will be randomly assigned to each study group. You must be willing to be assigned to either of the 2 study groups.

All study meetings will occur virtually via Zoom-delivered video calls.

Due to the abbreviated length of this study intervention, the team is unable to provide make up sessions if you are unable to attend a class. We ask that you plan to attend all 4 of the weekly classes.

You will be required to have your own digital body weight scale or regular access to one. During the baseline and 4-week timepoints, participants will be asked to objectively measure their body weight using a digital scale.

To ensure the accuracy of the data, specific instructions will be provided: ensure the scale is on a flat, hard surface; refrain from moving the scale or storing it on its side; weigh first thing in the morning, wearing light clothes, before eating/drinking and after voiding your bladder/bowels. We will ask you to take a photo of the weight and upload it to a survey.

You also will complete some surveys and dietary recalls.

If you are interested in enrolling in this study, we will ask you to fill out an online screening questionnaire to determine if you qualify for the study.

Add screening link from REDCap once finalized.