Offering a Health Empowerment Program in a Faith-Based Community Clinic

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Behavioral Science
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Overweight and obesity disproportionately affect low-income communities.
• There is a need for accessible, effective healthy living interventions in these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the Health Empowerment Program, a modified Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
• To improve physical activity, eating habits, and mental health outcomes in a low-income community.

Main Methods:

• A 7-week biopsychosocial intervention incorporating spirituality was implemented.
• 153 participants from a faith-based center completed self-report measures at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up.
• Measures included depressive/anxiety symptoms, self-regulation, physical activity, and eating habits.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in depressive symptoms (β = -1.21, P < .001) and anxiety symptoms (β = -0.69, P = .005).
• Significant increases in self-regulation (β = 2.42, P = .003), physical activity (β = 3.56, P = .016), and healthy eating habits (β = 0.97, P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Integrating spirituality into a healthy living program is feasible and associated with positive health outcomes.
• Future research should focus on adapting modified DPPs for broad community access.