Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls Logo

Staff

  • Joel Gittelsohn, Principal Investigator

  • Harmony Farner, Project Coordinator

Introduction/Overview

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls is a church-based diabetes prevention program. It was funded by the American Diabetes Association and the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

Primary Aims

  • The Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls program aims to reduce diabetes risk among urban African Americans by creating healthy food and physical activity environments within churches.

  • Participant engagement supports the development of applicable intervention strategies by identifying priority concerns, resources, and opportunities.

  • Compare the impact of Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls and Project POWER together with the impact of Project POWER alone.

  • The American Diabetes Association’s Project POWER (PP) is a faith-based program targeting the African American community.

Project Features

HBHS is a church-based diabetes prevention program that includes a five-phase weekly intervention. Healthier beverages, desserts, cooking, eating out, and physical activity were promoted through culturally acceptable materials and interactive sessions.

Communication Methods and Materials

  • Print media (such as posters, handouts, and bulletins)
  • Interactive sessions
  • Taste tests
  • Pedometer challenge
  • Testimonials
  • Health assessments
  • Educational sessions
  • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
  • Giveaways
  • Project POWER