230 Assessing the Role of Youth Sports in Diabetes Prevention and Perceived Discrimination

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our study aims to 1) examine the link between engagement in CLR Academy and youth diabetes risk factors—physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and weight status; 2) examine CLR’s role in moderating the relationship between perceived discrimination and these risk factors. Includes a program evaluation of CLR & interviews of members. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Youth-onset diabetes is rising in American minority communities. Youth sports programs like the Community Leadership Revolution (CLR) Academy in Washtenaw County, MI are emerging responses to this issue. CLR targets diabetes risk factors through team sports by promoting mindfulness and healthy habits. Employing a mixed-methods, pretest-posttest approach, our study focuses on how the frequency of engagement in CLR impacts CLR’s effect on youth’s diabetes risk factors. Considering the discrimination minority youth experience, we also aim to see if CLR potentially buffers the impact of perceived discrimination on diabetes risk factors. A posttest program evaluation of CLR will also include semi-structured interviews with CLR staff and participants. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: There is potential that youth with high engagement in CLR Academy may see enhanced benefits in managing diabetes risk factors compared to less active participants. This may be particularly true for youth experiencing high perceived discrimination, with potential marked improvements in mental health, like reduced anxiety and depression. Additionally, through a program evaluation and semi-structured interviews, our study aims to uncover the factors contributing to CLR’s success as a community-led intervention while also identifying areas for enhancement. Post-study, CLR will receive financial support to integrate these insights into their program, furthering their effectiveness in youth diabetes prevention and overall well-being. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study may provide significant insights into the relationship between sports participation, diabetes risk factors, and perceived discrimination. The findings could help CLR improve its program and guide more effective diabetes prevention strategies in minority youth through other youth sports programs.