Pregnant women in the first trimester are needed for the study

Participants may receive up to $725 in compensation for their involvement.

North Texas women in their first trimester of pregnancy are needed for a new study, and it could mean money, diapers, and personalized food kits.

The City of Mansfield and Methodist Mansfield partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health in the Harvesting Health Study.

Researchers want to better understand how healthy food can improve the health of pregnant moms and their babies.

“This study has the potential to influence how communities nationwide approach maternal and infant health through food and nutrition," said Erica Bender, Clinical Program Director, Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture (IHA) & Texas A&M AgriLife Research, in a news release.

Crystal Brown, Vice President of Operations for Methodist Mansfield Medical Center also said in the release, “The IHA’s Harvesting Health project will enable us to take a proactive approach by advancing our understanding how nutrition can shape healthier outcomes for mothers and babies.”

A mobile health assessment center with specialized state-of-the-art equipment will be used to assess maternal and infant biometrics.

-FIBROSCAN: Evaluates maternal liver fibrosis and steatosis.

-VEGGIE METER: Measures objective fruit and vegetable skin carotenoid intake.

-BODPOD: Assesses adult body composition via air displacement.

The research project is for newly pregnant women in the Dallas-Fort Worth area carrying one baby. The women who participate are eligible for $725 plus $25 worth of diapers. The moms may also be selected to receive pregnancy-tailored, personalized food kits.They must be a smartphone owner and speak English or Spanish.The moms must also be willing to travel to Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, or Tarrant counties for in-person data collection visits

For information, go to harvestinghealthstudy.org or call 972-952-9660.

Community leaders hope the findings will inform local efforts in Mansfield and contribute to broader conversations on maternal and child health across the country.This research study is supported, in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.