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This study extends previous research evaluating the association between the CHIP intervention, change in body weight, and change in psychological health. A randomized controlled health intervention study lasting 4 wk. was used with 348 participants from metropolitan Rockford, Illinois; ages ranged from 24 to 81 yr. Participants were assessed at baseline, 6 wk., and 6 mo. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and three selected psychosocial measures from the SF-36 Health Survey were used. Significantly greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI) occurred after 6 wk. and 6 mo. follow-up for the intervention group compared with the control group, with greater decreases for participants in the overweight and obese categories. Significantly greater improvements were observed in BDI scores, role-emotional and social functioning, and mental health throughout follow-up for the intervention group. The greater the decrease in BMI through 6 wk., the better the chance of improved BDI score, role-emotional score, social functioning score, and mental health score, with odds ratios of 1.3 to 1.9. Similar results occurred through 6 mo., except the mental health variable became nonsignificant. These results indicate that the CHIP intervention significantly improved psychological health for at least six months afterwards, in part through its influence on lowering BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which assesses the effectiveness of the health education course Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) in reducing cardiovascular risk among enrollees in Rockford, Illinois. The study found improvements on enrollees' body mass index, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose within 18 months. The study also considered CHIP as an intensive lifestyle change programme capable to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Purpose: Lifestyle modification programs have been shown to effectively treat chronic disease. The Coronary Health Improvement Program has been delivered by both paid professional and unpaid volunteer facilitators. This study compared participant outcomes of each mode in the United States. Design: Pre-/post-analysis of CHIP interventions delivered between 1999 and 2012. Setting: Professional-delivered programs in Rockford Illinois 1999-2004 and volunteer-delivered programs across North America 2005-2012. Subjects: Adults ≥21 years (professional programs N = 3158 34.3% men, mean age = 54.0 ± 11.4 years; volunteer programs N = 7115 33.4% men, mean age = 57.4 ± 13.0 years). Measures: Body mass index, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), blood lipid profile (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein), and fasting plasma glucose. Analysis: Analysis of Covariance, with adjustment for age, gender, BMI change and baseline biometric and effect sizes. Results: The professional-delivered programs achieved significantly greater reductions in BMI (.4%, P <.001) and HDL (1.9%, P <.001) and the volunteer-delivered programs achieved greater reductions in SBP (1.4%, P <.001), DBP (1.1%, P <.001), TC (1.4%, P =.004), LDL (2.3%, P <.001), TG (4.0%, P =.006), and FPG (2.7%, P <.001). However, the effect size differences between the groups were minimal (Cohen's d.1-.2). Conclusions: Lifestyle modification programs have been shown to effectively treat chronic disease. The Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) lifestyle intervention has been delivered by both paid professional and unpaid volunteer facilitators. This study compared selected chronic disease biometric outcomes of participants in each mode in the United States. It found volunteer-delivered programs do not appear to be any less effective than programs delivered by paid professionals, which is noteworthy as volunteers may provide important social capital in the combat of chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]