Researchers tested a health program called “¡Mi Vida Saludable!” designed specifically for Latina women who had breast cancer. The program offered in-person cooking and fitness classes, text messages, and health coaching to help women eat better and exercise more. After one year, women who attended the in-person classes ate significantly more fruits and vegetables compared to women who didn’t participate. However, the text messages and online program alone didn’t produce the same results. This study shows that face-to-face group activities may be especially helpful for this community.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether in-person classes, online messages, or a combination of both could help Latina breast cancer survivors eat healthier and exercise more
  • Who participated: 167 Latina women in New York City who had finished breast cancer treatment. Average age was 57 years old. Most were overweight or obese, and all weren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables or exercising enough at the start
  • Key finding: Women who attended in-person group classes ate about 10% more fruits and vegetables per day after 12 months, while the control group actually ate 44% fewer servings. This was a meaningful difference. However, text messages and online programs alone didn’t help people change their eating or exercise habits
  • What it means for you: If you’re a Latina breast cancer survivor looking to improve your diet, in-person group classes with cooking lessons and fitness activities may be more effective than online programs alone. However, this was one study in one city, so talk with your doctor about what might work best for you

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of research. Researchers divided 167 women into four groups randomly: one group got in-person classes only, one got online messages only, one got both in-person and online support, and one got no special program (the control group). All women received a fitness tracker and one coaching session. The in-person groups met weekly for four weeks and included cooking classes, fitness classes, grocery store tours, and social activities—all conducted in Spanish and English. The online group received text messages, newsletters, and website access for 11 months. Researchers measured how much fruit and vegetables women ate and how much they exercised at the beginning, 6 months, and 12 months.

This study design is important because randomly assigning people to different groups helps researchers figure out what actually caused the changes, not just what happened by chance. The 12-month follow-up period is long enough to see if changes stick around. The high retention rate (93% of women completed the study) means the results are more reliable

This study has several strengths: it was published in a respected nutrition journal, had a high completion rate, included culturally appropriate activities in participants’ preferred languages, and used objective measurements. However, the study only included women from New York City, so results might not apply everywhere. The study was relatively small, which means results should be confirmed with larger groups

What the Results Show

The most important finding was about fruit and vegetable intake. Women in the in-person group increased their daily servings by 10% over the year, while women in the control group actually decreased their intake by 44%. This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance. However, the in-person group’s increase was modest—they went from eating too few servings to eating slightly more, but still not the recommended amount. The eHealth-only group and the combined group (in-person plus eHealth) did not show significant improvements compared to control. Interestingly, the control group actually increased their physical activity by 53% over the year, which was unexpected. The in-person plus eHealth group decreased their activity by 34%, creating a significant difference between groups. This suggests that adding online messages to in-person classes might have had an unintended negative effect on exercise

The study measured energy density of food (how calorie-dense foods are) and body weight changes. Neither of these showed meaningful differences between groups at 12 months. This means that while the in-person group ate more fruits and vegetables, they didn’t necessarily lose weight or change the overall calorie content of their diet. This could mean that adding more vegetables didn’t replace other foods, or that 12 months wasn’t long enough to see weight changes

Previous research shows that in-person support and group-based programs tend to work better than online-only programs for lifestyle changes, especially in communities with health disparities. This study supports that finding. However, most previous studies weren’t specifically designed for Latina breast cancer survivors, so this research fills an important gap. The finding that eHealth alone didn’t work is consistent with other research showing that text messages and online programs need to be combined with personal support to be effective

The study only included women from New York City, so results might not apply to Latina women in other regions. The sample size of 167 is relatively small, which means results need to be confirmed in larger studies. The study didn’t measure whether women actually attended the in-person classes or engaged with the online messages, so we don’t know if lack of participation explained the results. The unexpected increase in physical activity in the control group is puzzling and suggests something else might have influenced the results. Finally, the study lasted only 12 months, so we don’t know if changes lasted longer

The Bottom Line

If you’re a Latina breast cancer survivor, in-person group classes focused on cooking and fitness may help you eat more fruits and vegetables (moderate confidence). Online messages alone are unlikely to produce significant changes (moderate confidence). A combination of in-person classes and online support didn’t work better than in-person alone in this study, so focus on what you can attend in person (low to moderate confidence). Talk with your healthcare provider about finding culturally tailored programs in your area

This research is most relevant to Latina women who have finished breast cancer treatment and want to improve their diet and exercise habits. It may also interest healthcare providers, community health workers, and program designers working with breast cancer survivors. Women of other backgrounds might benefit from similar programs, but this study specifically tested a culturally tailored approach for Latina women. If you’re a breast cancer survivor of another ethnicity, ask your doctor if similar programs exist for your community

In this study, changes in fruit and vegetable intake were visible after 12 months of participating in in-person classes. However, the increase was modest, so you shouldn’t expect dramatic changes. Most people need several months of consistent participation to see results. If you join a program, commit to at least 3-6 months before deciding if it’s working for you

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of fruits and vegetables using a simple food log or photo diary. Take a picture of your meals and snacks each day, or write down how many servings of fruits and vegetables you eat. Aim to increase by one serving per week until you reach 5+ servings daily
  • Use the app to set a weekly goal to try one new fruit or vegetable recipe from the program. Set a reminder to attend in-person cooking classes or fitness sessions if available in your area. Log which classes you attend and how you felt afterward to stay motivated
  • Check your progress weekly by reviewing your fruit and vegetable log. Compare your intake from week to week rather than expecting daily perfection. Every 4 weeks, assess whether you’ve increased by the target amount. If you’re not seeing progress, adjust your strategy—perhaps try different vegetables you enjoy more, or find a friend to join the program with you for accountability

This research describes one study in a specific population and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider. If you are a breast cancer survivor, consult with your oncologist or primary care doctor before starting any new diet or exercise program. The findings about in-person classes are promising but modest, and individual results may vary. This study was conducted in New York City with Latina women, so results may not apply to all populations. Always discuss any health changes with your medical team, especially if you have ongoing cancer treatment or other health conditions.