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A Church Based Approach to Lifestyle Change
Brent M. Egan, MD
College of Medicine
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Specific Aims:
- Evaluate participation in a lifestyle education program in churches and
its use of a newsletter, group retreats, and telephone support network
- Evaluate cardiovascular risk at baseline, end of the 10-week educational
program called "Lighten up," and one year after baseline
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| Obesity continues to contribute
to the risk of cardiovascular disease, including uncontrolled hypertension
(high blood pressure), stroke, heart and kidney disease, and diabetes.
This is especially prevalent in African American women. Church-based
programs have shown that reductions in weight and blood pressure can
be sustained. The church is a central aspect of many African American
communities and has been the connection for the "Heart and Soul Hypertension
Program." Participants in this program have requested nutrition and
health education in response to their increased awareness of high
blood pressure. The "Lighten Up" program continues to teach nutrition
and health information to control blood pressure. The goal was to
include 200 participants from approximately 20 community churches.
The impact of the "Lighten Up" educational program on health was assessed
both at the end of the program and one year after baseline by measuring
participation, weight, height, blood pressure, fasting lipid profile,
and fasting glucose. The Duke Endowment has funded this program for
another 3 years. Representatives from the American Heart Association
have visited the program to learn how to apply the concepts of “A
Church Based Approach to Life Change” elsewhere in the community.
The program entitled “Lighten Up” received the Outstanding Community
Service Award for its work in reaching ethnic minorities at very high
risk for cardiovascular disease from the International Society on
Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB). Click
here to redirect to the Lighten Up website. (www.lightenupforever.org)
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Results:
- The program has reached over 700 participants through 35 churches (20)
African American in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Significant improvements in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol,
triglycerides and glucose levels by 10 weeks and differences noted in
weight and systolic blood pressure by one year after completing the
course.
- Parish Nurses are provided
training and Education Manuals to develop programs in their faith
communities.
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For more information contact
Mary Joan Oexmann, MS RD
College of Medicine
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