Physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, and obesity are vexing problems among minorities. SAving Lives, Staying Active (SALSA) was an 8-week randomized controlled crossover design, pilot study to promote regular physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption as a means to preventing weight gain among women of color. Participants completed measures of demographics, PA, and dietary habits. Women (N = 50; mean 42 years) who participated were overweight (mean BMI 29.7 kg/m2; mean body fat 38.5%) and reported low levels of leisure time PA (mean 10.7 MET-min/wk) and FV consumption (mean 4.2 servings/day). All were randomized to a four-week (1) semiweekly Latin dance group or (2) internet-based dietary education group. All participants reported a significant increase in weekly leisure time PA from baseline (mean 10.7 MET-min/wk) to follow up (mean 34.0 MET-min/wk, p < 0.001), and FV consumption increased over time by group (p = 0.02). Data suggest that Latin dance interventions to improve PA and web-based interventions to improve dietary habits show promise for improving health among women of color.

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