Oct 6, 2024 Story by: Editor
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – A new opportunity is available for African-Americans looking to enhance their health and earn some extra money. The University of South Carolina is launching its “Diet Guidelines: 3 Diets” study this June at the Discovery I Building, located at the Arnold School of Public Health on Greene Street.
In an interview with Tyler Ryan, Briana Davis, the Assistant Project Manager, explained the motivation behind the study. Davis highlighted that African Americans, particularly those living in the Southern U.S., tend to have lower diet quality scores and face a disproportionate risk of chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease when compared to Whites and Hispanics.
The study offers a free one-year nutrition program, during which participants will be randomly assigned to follow one of three dietary patterns: Healthy US, Vegetarian, or Mediterranean. The aim is to determine whether weight loss through these diets can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Participants will also receive practical cooking lessons, nutrition education, recipes, and food samples to help them adopt their assigned diet.
As an added incentive, individuals who complete the study will receive $100.
To qualify, participants must identify as African-American, be between the ages of 18 and 65, and must not have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, among other eligibility requirements. Image Source: ABS 25 Columbia