scholarly journals Optimizing the Intensity of Lifestyle Medicine Interventions: Similar Outcomes for Half the Sessions

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren P. Morton ◽  
Lillian Kent ◽  
Paul Rankin ◽  
Brett Mitchell ◽  
Karina Parker ◽  
...  

Lifestyle medicine interventions are typically intensive by design. This study explored the optimal “dosage” of a well-known lifestyle medicine intervention—the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP). A total of 2383 individuals (mean age = 61.0 ± 9.2 years; 34% males) participated in either an 8-session (N = 448) or 16-session (N = 1935) version of the CHIP intervention conducted over 4 weeks in community settings throughout North America. Both the 8- and 16-session groups experienced significant improvements in all the chronic disease risk factors measured. There was no difference between the changes experienced by the 8- and 16-session groups in lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, or systolic blood pressure. The 8-session group experienced a significantly greater reduction in body mass (0.3 percentage points or 0.8 lbs, P < .01), but the 16-session group recorded a significantly greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure (2.8 percentage points or 2.2 mm Hg, P < .01). There was no clear difference between the outcomes achieved in 4 weeks by the 8- and 16-session versions of the CHIP lifestyle medicine intervention. This study suggests that the short-term outcomes achieved by a 16-session CHIP intervention can be achieved in half the number of sessions, which has implications from a resourcing and cost-effectiveness perspective.

2014 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Morton ◽  
Paul Rankin ◽  
Lillian Kent ◽  
Rex Sokolies ◽  
Wayne Dysinger ◽  
...  

Purpose: The short-term effectiveness of the nutrition-centred Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) lifestyle intervention for improving selected chronic disease risk factors was examined in the Canadian setting. Methods: A total of 1003 people (aged 56.3 ± 12.1 years, 68% female) were self-selected to participate in one of 27 CHIP interventions hosted in community settings by Seventh-day Adventist churches throughout Canada, between 2005 and 2011. The program centred on the promotion of a whole-food, plant-based eating pattern, and daily physical activity was also encouraged. Biometric measures, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), blood lipid profile, and fasting blood sugar (FBS), were determined at program entry and 30 days into the intervention. Results: Over 30 days, significant overall reductions (P<0.001) were recorded in the participants’ BMI (-3.1%), systolic BP (-7.3%), diastolic BP (-4.3%), total cholesterol ([TC] -11.3%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ([LDL-C] -12.9%), triglycerides ([TG] -8.2%), and FBS (-7.0%). Participants with the highest classifications of TC, LDL-C, TG, and FBS at program entry experienced approximately 20% reductions in these measures in 30 days. Conclusions: The CHIP intervention, which centres on a whole-food, plant-based eating pattern, can lead to rapid and meaningful reductions in chronic disease risk factors in the Canadian context.


2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592094700
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Wang ◽  
Azza H. Ahmed ◽  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Elizabeth A. Richards

Obesity is a costly and pervasive risk factor that requires attention to reduce chronic disease rates. This study evaluated the effect of a lifestyle medicine intervention, Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), on reducing weight, blood pressure, lipid levels, and hemoglobin A1c. A secondary aim was to build a preliminary predictive model for computing new participants’ potential weight change from CHIP. We evaluated pre- and post-intervention biometric data of 68 individuals who completed a 10-week CHIP intervention at a Midwestern university clinic. Significant reductions ( p < 0.05) were observed in weight, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and A1c. Regression analyses indicated that the best linear model for predicting change in weight was a one-predictor model with systolic blood pressure. The CHIP intervention effectively promoted weight loss and meaningful reductions in chronic disease risk factors. Larger samples are needed for future regression analyses to create a more robust linear model.


2021 ◽  
pp. 155982762110493
Author(s):  
Emily Scriven ◽  
Bhakti Chavan ◽  
David Drozek

The Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) is an intensive therapeutic lifestyle modification program (ITLMP) with well-documented success in decreasing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Plant-based diets and physical activity are components of the program that contribute to these improvements. Yet, there are few studies on how ITLMPs affect risk factors specifically for the geriatric population. The goal of this study was to examine results of CHIP participants with a focus on the older (greater than 65 years) population in Athens, Ohio. Retrospective data from 2011 to 2017 were analyzed for 26 CHIP classes. Recorded variables included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), blood glucose (BG), and exercise level. Among geriatric participants, significant changes were found in BMI, BP, TC, LDL, HDL, BG, and exercise level ( P < .001). As compared to the younger population, changes in variables were equivalent in the geriatric population in all variables ( P > .05). These improvements in CVD risk factors among the elderly support the hypothesis that CHIP should be considered for CVD prevention and treatment in the geriatric population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-273
Author(s):  
Nicole D. White ◽  
Vicki Bautista ◽  
Thomas Lenz ◽  
Amy Cosimano

Lifestyle modifications can effectively decrease chronic disease risk but studies show little to no time during patient encounters is spent on lifestyle medicine counseling. The SMART-EST goal framework facilitates both a rich discussion of lifestyle medicine and a comprehensive patient-centered action plan for health behavior change. The tenets of the SMART-EST goal-setting process are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhatri Kotekal ◽  
Melanie Worley ◽  
Hemal Patel ◽  
Laura Jensen ◽  
Godwin Y. Dogbey ◽  
...  

Intensive therapeutic lifestyle modification programs, such as the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, there are little data on how participation in CHIP with a household member can affect CVD biomarkers. This study focuses on the benefit of joint participation of household members in CHIP in order to have a better outcome in improving CVD risk factors compared with lone or individual participation. Data from 20 CHIP classes offered from 2011 to 2015 in Athens, Ohio, where each class was conducted over 2-4 months, consisting of 16-18 sessions, were collected. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid profiles were measured before and near the completion of each class. A statistically significant greater reduction in BMI (p = 0.003) in those who attended with a household member compared to those who attended as individuals was found. CHIP has some effect on various CVD risk factors for those who attend intensive therapeutic lifestyle modification programs with an accompanying household member. Hence, encouragement of participation with a family member or a “buddy” may be prudent, especially if weight reduction is a key program participation goal. Further evaluation of the “buddy effect” involving both of those residing in the same household and those who do not but nevertheless provide mutual support is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Drozek ◽  
Alexandria DeFabio ◽  
Randi Amstadt ◽  
Godwin Y. Dogbey

The initial benefits of lifestyle modification programs such as reduction in chronic and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors have been well documented. However, such positive effects may deteriorate over time following relapse into inactivity. Timely detection of weight regain leading to the deterioration of the accrued benefits could trigger early resumption of intensive lifestyle intervention. To date, no known cost-effective, noninvasive approach for monitoring long-term outcomes has yet been established. The purpose of this study was to determine if body mass index (BMI) change predicted changes in other CVD biometric markers during an intensive lifestyle modification program. This study was an observational, retrospective review of records of participants from the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP). Biomarker changes of participants in this community-based Intensive Therapeutic Lifestyle Modification Program (ITLMP) offered in Athens, Ohio, a rural Appalachian college town, between April 2011 and June 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. BMI, heart rate (Pulse), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and glucose (FBS) were monitored before and after program completion. Data were analyzed using a multivariate general linear model. The sample analyzed consisted of 620 participants (mean age of 52.3±13.0 years, 74.5% female). Controlling for age and gender, BMI change significantly predicted 5 out of the 8 biomarker changes measured [Wilk’s λ = 0.939, F(8,526) = 4.29, p <.0001]. Specifically, a 1-point BMI decrease was associated with 4.4 units decrease in TC, 3.2 units in LDL, 5.3 units in TG, 2 units in SBP, and 1 unit in DBP (all p values < .05). These results suggest that change in BMI may be a useful predictor of change in other CVD biomarkers’ outcomes during and after an ITLMP participation. Tracking BMI, therefore, could serve as a proxy measure for identifying regressing biomarker changes following participation in an ITLMP leading to a timelier reassessment and intervention. Future studies evaluating the value of BMI as a surrogate for highlighting overall cardiovascular health are warranted.


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