Prenatal Obesity Prevention: Group vs Individual Counseling and Fruit and Vegetable Voucher Redemption

Alessandra Marcone Firestone; Rachel S Gross; Mary Jo Messito; Janneth Bancayan; Michelle W Katzow; Christina N Kim; Nikita Nagpal; Carol Duh-Leong

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.007

Prenatal Obesity Prevention: Group vs Individual Counseling and Fruit and Vegetable Voucher Redemption

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2026 Mar 12:S1499-4046(26)00042-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Alessandra Marcone Firestone¹, Rachel S Gross², Mary Jo Messito², Janneth Bancayan², Michelle W Katzow³, Christina N Kim², Nikita Nagpal², Carol Duh-Leong⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
² Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY; Cohen Children's Medical Center, Queens, NY; Institute for Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY. Electronic address: carol.duh-leong@nyulangone.org.

PMID: 41823932
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.007

Abstract

Objective: To examine if variation in session format and content of a prenatal obesity prevention program is associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) voucher redemption in Hispanic/Latino pregnant participants.

Methods: A secondary analysis of participants who received FV vouchers in a single-arm feasibility trial. We used linear regressions to assess associations between program session format (group vs individual) and FV voucher redemption rate, with session content (nutrition vs other lifestyle content [e.g., stress management or physical activity]) as a secondary predictor.

Results: Participants (n = 131) who attended a greater percentage of sessions in group format had increased voucher redemption rates (B = 0.37 [95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.70]. P = 0.03). Attending a higher percentage of group sessions with nutrition content rather than other lifestyle content was associated with a higher redemption rate (B = 0.19 [95% confidence interval, 0.002-0.38], P = 0.05).

Conclusions and implications: Pairing FV voucher distribution with nutrition counseling delivered in a group format may increase utilization of FV vouchers.

Keywords: Hispanic or Latino; counseling; food insecurity; obesity; pregnancy.