Southern Miss Intervention Program Targets State's High Obesity Rates

[Newsguy]

Hattiesburg – An intervention study launched by the University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Nutrition and Food Systems (NFS) proves exercise and a healthy diet should indeed be the weapons of choice in the battle to lower the nation’s staggering obesity rates.The Mississippi Delta is considered to be among the front lines in the fight for better health. The region is plagued with high rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease according to Southern Miss researchers.Searching for an antidote, researchers partnered with Hollandale community members to create a program called “Fit for Life Steps Intervention.” Hollandale is located in Washington County in the Delta.The six-month walking intervention program involved 63 residents who blamed their community’s health woes on the lack of physical activity and trainers, role models, willpower, self-esteem and education in the area.To get participants on the right track, creators installed a walking trail plus offered the group, which were divided into teams, monthly nutrition and physical activity educational sessions. Participants were also provided coaches (community volunteers) and challenged to do a little self- monitoring of their own.Program coordinator Dr. Kathy Yadrick, director of Southern Miss’ NFS department, said the program’s impact was substantial. “They (participants) experienced significant improvements in waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol—the good cholesterol—during their participation,” said Yadrick who credited much of the program’s success to the community’s active contribution and participation in each phase of the research.A participant who wished to remain anonymous said her days of cooking with a lot of margarine and high seasonings were over thanks to the knowledge she gained during the educational sessions. It (program) helped me to realize the importance of a healthy life, and that the choices we make can sometimes prove damaging, she said. I think it was the way the program was made, so simple. Overall, I learned I could walk more than I realized.” Southern Miss’ NFS department has partnered with the city of Hollandale to improve nutritional health in the community, as part of a tri-state initiative called the Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative. Other Mississippi partners involved with Fit for Life Steps Intervention program are Alcorn State University, Mississippi State Extension Service and the USDA Agriculture Research Service, which funded the study. For more information, contact Dr. Kathy Yadrick at 601.266.5377.

More... (http://www.usm.edu/pr/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=112&Itemid=2)