1. Improving the Health of Immigrant Workers
PASOS:
Improving the Health of Immigrant Workers
PI: Marc Schenker, MD, MPH
University of California at Davis
Funded by NIH NIDDK #1R18DK A1

2. Our Objective & Our Approach
The goal of our public-private partnership is to improve the health of agricultural workers, most of whom are Latino immigrants.
We will implement a culturally tailored lifestyle education program at the field site targeting obesity and diabetes prevention.

3. Our Multidisciplinary Team
UC Davis, Dept. of Public Health Sciences
UC Davis, Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics
Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC)
UC Berkeley, Health Initiative of the Americas
USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

4. Our History Working Together
– Developed obesity and diabetes prevention program and pilot tested with RAC workers
– RAC continued to deliver the program to workers in CA and Mexico
2014 – Awarded a National Institutes of Health grant
– Implementation of the program and dissemination of information to other growers

5. The Health Context
Rates of obesity are at epidemic levels in the US (33% of the population is obese)
Diabetes prevalence is over 11%
Latinos have higher rates of diabetes and obesity than whites

6. Our Approach
Promotoras deliver obesity & diabetes prevention lessons in an interactive format at the worksite during lunch
The Pasos program is delivered in weekly sessions for 12 weeks
Supplemental
activities are held in
the evening and on
weekends
Photo Credit: Reiter Affiliated Companies

7. Our Curriculum Session topics include:
5 Steps to a healthy life
Understanding my heart
Overweight and our children
Measuring my portions
Measuring my portions II
Silent killer (blood pressure)
Understanding diabetes
Understanding diabetes II
What is cholesterol?
Maintaining a healthy weight
Review of all topics
Graduation
The importance of physical activity and drinking water will be highlighted in every session

8. Cinco Pasos
Each session begins and ends with the group reciting the five steps used as framework for the sessions:
Move!
Drink water
Eat fruits and vegetables
Measure (portions and waist)
Share! (what you learn with family & friends)

9. Have fun!
Supplemental activities include cooking demonstrations, hiking groups, and ZUMBA!

10. Measuring Results
Anthropometric: Weight, Height, Waist Circumference, BMI
Biometrics: Blood Pressure, HbA1c, Cholesterol
Knowledge and Behaviors: Diet, Physical Activity, Mental Health
Economic: Absenteeism, Retention, Injury, Health Care Costs

11. Our Pilot Findings Reduced weight, BMI and waist circumference
Increase in physical activity
Improved diet
Increase in water consumption

12. Our Vision
Motivate and empower workers to adopt healthy lifestyle choices resulting in improved health outcomes.
Demonstrate the economic viability and sustainability of the program and encourage other growers to implement it with their workers.

13. Questions
Contact Heather Riden, Study Project Manager, with any questions