RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A groundbreaking study led by the University of California, Riverside has unveiled the transformative impact of a community-based health initiative, ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! (“Eat, Move, and Live!”), on Latino families in rural Southern California. The program, which focuses on improving diet, physical activity, and chronic disease management, has shown significant success in fostering healthier lifestyles among its participants.
Derived from an intervention developed by City of Hope, ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! is a linguistically tailored initiative delivered by trusted community health workers, known as “promotoras,” to low-income, rural Latinas. This approach offers a promising model for addressing chronic disease disparities in underserved areas through culturally grounded, community-led efforts.
Empowering Communities Through Culturally Relevant Interventions
According to Ann Cheney, a professor of social medicine, population, and public health at UC Riverside and the senior author of the study published in BMC Public Health, the program’s success lies in its cultural relevance and community involvement. “Our findings show that programs like ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! can improve quality of life for underserved rural Latino populations,” Cheney stated. “By involving promotoras throughout the research process, we ensured the program was meaningful and relevant to participants’ daily lives.”
Latinos, who represent the largest rural minority in the United States, often face barriers such as limited access to healthy food, safe exercise spaces, and Spanish-language health education. These factors contribute to high rates of obesity and diabetes. The ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! program specifically targets Latino immigrants in California’s Eastern Coachella Valley, a region with some of the state’s highest diabetes rates.
Program Structure and Participant Feedback
The 10-week virtual program, conducted in Spanish with Purépecha translation, integrates health education, cooking demonstrations, and exercise sessions. Weekly topics include diabetes management, nutrition, and cholesterol, complemented by affordable, culturally familiar recipes and group workouts set to Spanish music.
In late 2022, Cheney’s team conducted focus groups with 20 low-income, Spanish-speaking Latina women to assess the program’s impact. Participants reported improved understanding of diet, exercise, and disease prevention, leading to healthier habits such as increased produce consumption, reduced sugary drink intake, and more frequent exercise. Many participants noted weight loss, increased energy, and greater confidence in managing diabetes and obesity.
“Programs like ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! show that when communities lead the way, health education becomes more effective and empowering,” said Jacqueline Moreira, a program coordinator for research studies in the UCR Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health and the first author of the research paper.
Beyond Individual Impact: Community and Family Benefits
Cheney emphasized that the program’s benefits extended beyond individual participants. Many women shared their newfound knowledge with family members, promoting healthier eating and activity habits at home. The use of WhatsApp and culturally relevant materials helped build trust, engagement, and a sense of connection among participants, contributing to the program’s success.
“By integrating local voices, cultural food traditions, and community networks, ¡Coma, Muévase y Viva! provides a model for how to deliver accessible, relevant, and sustainable health education in underserved communities,” Cheney remarked.
Implications for Public Health and Future Directions
The study underscores the importance of culturally responsive public health programs, especially for populations facing language, economic, and geographic barriers to care. The research team, which included Jair Chavez and Noah Baltrushes from UCR and Andrea Gonzales from Johns Hopkins University, highlights the potential for such initiatives to address health inequities effectively.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health – National Cancer Institute, the study titled “¡Coma, Muévase y Viva!: qualitative findings from a dietary and lifestyle change intervention for Latinas in the rural desert region of Inland Southern California” offers valuable insights for future public health strategies.
As a leading research university, UC Riverside continues to explore critical issues impacting Inland Southern California and beyond. With an enrollment of over 26,000 students, UCR’s diverse campus opened a medical school in 2013 and extends its influence through the UCR Palm Desert Center, contributing more than $2.7 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
For more information on UC Riverside’s initiatives and impact, visit www.ucr.edu.
