Body & Soul
Program Title | Body & Soul |
---|---|
Purpose | Community-based program designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. (2004) |
Program Focus | Behavior Modification |
Population Focus | Faith-based Groups |
Topic | Diet/Nutrition |
Age | Adults (40-65 years), Older Adults (65+ years), Young Adults (19-39 years) |
Gender | Female, Male |
Race/Ethnicity | Black, not of Hispanic or Latino origin |
Setting | Religious establishments, Suburban, Urban/Inner City |
Origination | United States |
Funded by | NCI (Grant number(s) not available.), American Cancer Society (Grant number(s) not available.) |
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Body and Soul is a combination of the effective components from the Black Churches United for Better Health and Eat for Life programs. The components include church-wide nutrition activities such as: a kick-off event, forming a project committee, conducting at least three nutrition events, plus one additional event involving the pastor, and making at least one policy change (e.g., establishing guidelines for the types of foods served at church functions or changing snacks served at youth camps). Additional church-wide activities include hosting guest speakers and cooking demonstrations and taste tests, and providing self-help materials such as a cookbook, video, and educational pamphlets. A Peer Counseling Training DVD product is available, however, it was not included as part of the original study. Lay church volunteers conduct at least two motivational counseling calls to members as well.
The video, "Forgotten Miracles", the "Eat for Life" cookbook, and the church guidebook, "Body & Soul: A Celebration of Healthy Eating & Living" are required. A Peer Counseling Training DVD is also available. Costs associated with program implementation are not provided.
A total of 15 churches, with 1,022 participants from California, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware and Virginia were randomly assigned to the Body and Soul intervention or to a comparison group. Church-wide events and environmental changes for Body and Soul sites were aimed at the entire congregation and included inviting guest speakers, sponsoring food demonstrations, watching a video, and implementing food policy changes to increase the availability of fruits and vegetables. Consenting participants received two motivational interviewing calls from lay counselors, a cookbook, and several educational pamphlets. Fruit and vegetable intake was measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up.
Results indicated:
- At 6-month follow-up, Body and Soul participants consumed more fruits and vegetables per day than control participants.
- Body and Soul participants decreased their percentage of calories from fat; were more motivated to eat fruits and vegetables; and had greater self-efficacy and social supports to eat fruits and vegetables compared to control participants.
Please click on the related program(s) to review.
Eat for Life in that:
- They are by the same developer/investigator with the same theoretical basis, focus but have different materials that are designed for different target audiences.
Healthy Body Healthy Spirit in that:
- They are by the same developer/investigator with the same theoretical basis, focus but have different materials that are designed for different target audiences.
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