LEXINGTON, Ky. — The National Institutes of Health/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recently awarded a five-year $3.8 million grant to the University of Kentucky to begin a new study aimed at improving diet and activity among rural Appalachian Kentuckians.

The new research effort will test whether a program, Make Better Choices 2 (MBC2), can improve diet and physical activity among 300 community members in Eastern Kentucky.

The MBC2 intervention integrates four approaches: an interactive app, personalized health coaching, Fitbits and financial incentives.

MBC2 will be conducted among rural Appalachian Kentuckians, a population at high risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions that can be improved by diet and physical activity.

Project leadership expects to start recruiting participants in the late spring. Participation will be open to any Eastern Kentucky resident 18 and older meeting health and health behavior eligibility requirements. All must have a cell phone and agree to use it for the project.

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