HONOLULU (HI Now) - The Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Study II, conducted at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, is looking for more participants before the study closes recruitment later this summer. Started in 2022, the study has enrolled over 180 Oahu residents; however, more adults aged 35-69, particularly men, are needed to join. The study aims to determine if healthy changes in dietary habits and a regular physical activity plan can affect the amount of fat stored in the body and, especially, the abdomen to reduce cancer risk. Led by University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center Researchers Loic Le Marchand, MD, PhD and Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla, PhD, RDN, the project tests the difference between two calorie-restricted diets, and whether either diet helps to reduce the fat wrapped around the intra-abdominal organs, as well as total body fat, in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or White adults.
“Abdominal fat is known to increase the risk of a number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, including those of the colon, liver, pancreas, and breast”, said Dr. Revilla. “In Hawai’i, certain ethnic groups that tend to store fat inside the abdomen are also experiencing higher rates of these diseases.” The study features many unique benefits including dietary counseling for 24 weeks under the supervision of a nutritionist, and detailed body measurements using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to determine body fat distribution.
Individuals may be eligible if meet the following criteria:
- Oahu resident
- East Asian (Japanese, Chinese, or Korean), Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or White ancestry
- Age 35 to 69 years old
- Slightly or more than slightly overweight
- Have not smoked in the last 2 years
- Would like to improve eating and exercise habits for 24 weeks
Don’t miss the opportunity to enroll! Interested individuals can find out more and see if they are eligible by contacting the study team at 808-237-3901, or by email at hdls2@cc.hawaii.edu, they can also read about the study online at www.uhcancercenter.org/hdls2.
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