“Social Network Intervention for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Among Hispanic and Somali Adults: A Cluster Randomized Trial”
Immigrants to the United States often face challenges from limited healthcare access and less healthy environments which contribute to rising obesity and cardiovascular risk. Social network interventions, where social networks (for example, friends and family) are used to promote positive behavior change, are a promising approach to improve health outcomes among difficult to reach populations. In this study, a social network intervention was conducted where 51 lay health promoters from Hispanic and Somali immigrant groups delivered a health promotion program to up to 12 members of their social networks for a total of 475 participants. Social networks were randomly assigned to receive the intervention immediately or after a delay of 1 year. Measurements were done at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months, and included measures of cardiovascular risk and weight. Compared with the delayed intervention group, participants in the early intervention groups showed a modest improvement of cardiovascular risk and clinically significant weight loss, suggesting that social network interventions hold promise in reducing the rise of obesity and cardiovascular risk accumulation after immigration.
“We are all Human Beings That Deserve the Same Opportunities as Everyone Else”: Immigrant Perspectives on Health in Southeast Minnesota: A Photovoice Study
Using a Photovoice approach grounded in community-based participatory research and Public Health Critical Race Praxis, RHCP partnered with 14 Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters in Southeast Minnesota to document community assets, barriers, and health priorities. Through photographs and guided group reflection, participants shared lived experiences related to making healthy choices, maintaining cultural identity and inclusion, and accessing opportunity.
Self-Efficacy Is Associated with Health Behaviors Related To Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Among Hispanic/Latinx and Somali Immigrants To the United States
Self-efficacy, or confidence in performing health behaviors, was examined among 450 Hispanic/Latinx and Somali adults enrolled in the Healthy Immigrant Community project in southeastern Minnesota. Participants completed baseline assessments of confidence for healthy eating and physical activity, along with dietary intake, physical activity, and biometric measures.
A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis Exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali Immigrant Health Promoters' Perspectives on a Social Network Intervention to Address Cardiovascular Disease Disparities
RHCP worked with Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant leaders to implement a social network–based health program called Healthy Immigrant Community (HIC). Health promoters (HPs) led sessions focused on improving diet and physical activity to reduce heart disease risk. Over time, HPs shifted their focus from weight loss to broader goals like overall health and community well-being.
Body Size Perceptions Associated with Body Mass Index and Weight Loss Intentions Among Two Immigrant Populations
RHCP surveyed over 1,200 Hispanic and Somali immigrant adults in Southeast Minnesota to better understand how people perceive their own body size and weight, and how those perceptions relate to their intentions to lose weight. While many participants had a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range, fewer identified themselves as such.
Evaluation of a Photovoice Exhibit About Immigrant Health Priorities in Southeast Minnesota
RHCP collaborated with Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant leaders in Southeast Minnesota to create a photovoice exhibit that highlighted community health priorities. Participants took photos representing their concerns, discussed themes, and developed policy recommendations. These were shared at a public event and a rotating exhibit in 2024, reaching over 100 attendees including decision-makers, community members, and researchers.
Negative Mood is Associated with Sociobehavioral Factors Contributing to Cardiovascular Risk in an Immigrant Population
Among Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrants in southeast Minnesota, those who reported feeling down or in a negative mood were more likely to face challenges with healthy eating, physical activity, and feeling connected to their communities. These individuals tended to eat fewer fruits and vegetables, drink more sugary beverages, and had lower confidence in their ability to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Healthy Immigrant Community Study Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Network Intervention for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Among Hispanic and Somali Adults
The Healthy Immigrant Community (HIC) project is a community-driven health initiative developed by RHCP to reduce cardiovascular risks among Hispanic and Somali adults in Minnesota. The program uses a social network approach, where trained health promoters from each community lead group sessions focused on improving diet, physical activity, and overall wellness.
Pilot Social Network Weight Loss Intervention With Two Immigrant Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RHCP piloted a weight loss program for Somali and Hispanic immigrant communities in southeastern Minnesota. Lay health promoters from each community led small social network groups through a 12-week intervention focused on improving diet, physical activity, and overall health.
Lay Health Worker as Interventionist Training: Reflective Writing in US Family Health Promotion Practice.
Lay health workers from immigrant and refugee communities in Rochester were trained to deliver a family-based nutrition and physical activity program through RHCP. These Family Health Promoters (FHPs) worked directly with families to set small, meaningful health goals, adapting their approach to each family's unique needs and circumstances.
Healthy Eating in a Boys and Girls Club Afterschool Programme: Barriers, Facilitators, and Opportunities
Children at the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester face significant challenges to healthy eating, with nearly half classified as overweight or obese and many falling short of basic nutrition guidelines. Through RHCP’s Club Fit initiative, youth, staff, and caregivers shared insights into barriers like limited access to fresh food, time constraints, and the appeal of junk food.
Club Fit: Development of a Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Intervention at a Boys & Girls Club After School Program
Club Fit is a multi-component childhood obesity prevention initiative developed through a community-based participatory approach between the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester (BGCR) and RHCP. The program aimed to promote physical activity and healthy eating among socioeconomically diverse youth through five integrated strategies: policy implementation, structured health challenges, peer coaching, staff training, and social marketing.
Association of Social Network Factors With Weight Status and Weight Loss Intentions Among Hispanic Adults
RHCP surveyed 610 Hispanic adults in Rochester, Minnesota to understand how friends and family influence weight and health habits. They found that people who were overweight or obese often had social circles with similar weight issues. However, it wasn’t just who people knew—it was how those relationships worked.
Social Networks and Obesity Among Somali Immigrants and Refugees
A community-based participatory research project led by RHCP examined the relationship between social networks and obesity among Somali immigrants and refugees in Rochester, Minnesota. Survey and biometric data from 646 participants revealed that half were overweight or obese, and those with higher BMI tended to have more overweight individuals in their social networks.
Identifying Opportunities to Promote Physical Activity in a Diverse Low-Income Population: A Mixed-Method Study at a Boys & Girls Club Site
A mixed-method study conducted through RHCP and the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester (BGCR) explored physical activity engagement among children from diverse, low-income backgrounds. Quantitative data showed that while most children met physical activity guidelines, nearly half were overweight or obese and fewer than half met screen time recommendations.
Healthy Immigrant Families: Randomized Controlled Trial of a Family-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention
RHCP’s Healthy Immigrant Families study was a randomized controlled trial designed to improve dietary quality and physical activity among Hispanic, Somali, and Sudanese immigrant families in Rochester, Minnesota. Using a CBPR approach, community and academic partners co-developed a 12-module intervention delivered by trained, language-congruent Family Health Promoters through home visits and follow-up calls.
Relationship Between Negative Mood and Health Behaviors in an Immigrant and Refugee Population
Baseline data from RHCP’s Healthy Immigrant Families project revealed a strong link between mood and health behaviors among immigrant and refugee adolescents and adults in Rochester, Minnesota. Adolescents with positive mood were significantly more active, consumed less soda, and reported greater social support for physical activity.
Treatment Fidelity Among Family Health Promoters Delivering a Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention to Immigrant and Refugee Families
RHCP implemented a culturally tailored physical activity and nutrition intervention for Hispanic, Somali, and Sudanese immigrant and refugee families in Rochester, Minnesota, using a CBPR approach. Family Health Promoters (FHPs) from each community delivered 12 modules through home visits and follow-up calls, focusing on behavior change strategies grounded in social cognitive theory and motivational interviewing.
Healthy Immigrant Families: Participatory Development and Baseline Characteristics of a Community-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention
RHCP developed and tested a culturally tailored physical activity and nutrition intervention for immigrant and refugee families in Rochester, Minnesota, using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. The intervention was co-created by academic and community partners from Hispanic, Somali, and Sudanese backgrounds and delivered by trained bilingual Family Health Promoters (FHPs) through home visits and follow-up calls.
A Focus Group Study of Healthy Eating Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers among Adult and Adolescent Immigrants and Refugees in the United States
This qualitative study examines how adult and adolescent immigrants and refugees from Somali, Mexican, Cambodian, and Sudanese communities in Minnesota understand and practice healthy eating. Using a community-based participatory research approach, researchers conducted 16 focus groups to explore participants’ knowledge, eating habits, and barriers to healthy eating.