NHLBI, Hearts N' Parks Program - 2003 Magnet Center Sites

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2003 Magnet Center Sites

South Bend, IN—Adult Programs

Description

South Bend implemented three Hearts N’ Parks programs for adults that focused on heart-healthy eating and physical activity. Participants in the Healthy Seniors program engaged in chair aerobics and balancing exercises for 20-30 minutes per class. They also received information on nutrition and health, the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, how to read food labels, blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, and diabetes. Each week, a local nurse checked participants' blood pressure, and performed diabetes and high blood cholesterol testing. In addition, heart-healthy recipes were shared, and the seniors received samples of low-fat foods and snacks. Participants were also encouraged to keep daily records of their healthy eating, and prizes such as heart pins, squeeze balls, and tape measures were awarded to those participants who completed the food records. South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) Recruit participants received a complete physical fitness assessment and a physical activity plan. Afterwards, they engaged in cardiovascular exercise using treadmills, stair steppers, bikes, and strength equipment such as free weights or machines. Participants also had the opportunity to take yoga and aerobic classes, and do fitness ball and stretching and flexibility exercises. Each week, participants received information on healthy eating and food preparation, body mass index and weight management, cholesterol, stress management, and diabetes. Summer City Employee participants received free testing for body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, as well as nutrition and health information. They also engaged in yoga classes and flexibility and stretching exercises, and especially enjoyed the free 12-week membership to the O'Brien Fitness Center.

Program Information

Name of program	Healthy Seniors MLK	South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) Recruit	City Employees
Program start and end date	1/15/2003 to 4/2/2003	1/12/2003 to 5/26/2003	6/4/2003 to 8/20/2003
Number of times program met per week	1	3	1
Number of participants (total)	25	10	29
Number of male participants	5	10	11
Number of female participants	22	0	18
Target group	Adult	Adult	Adult
Program focus
Physical Activity
Heart-Healthy Eating
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Location of activities
Classes	-	-
Fitness center	-
Senior center		-	-
Other	-	-
Materials used
Information Handout
Lesson		-
Activity
Menus	-	-
Other	-	-

Public Visibility

Internal efforts to promote Hearts N' Parks programs:

Bulletin board or information racks
Presentations(boards, councils, staff)
Newsletter or brochure
Posters in buildings

External efforts to promote Hearts N' Parks programs:

Media Coverage: N/A

Special Event(s): N/A
Number of presentations: 3

Other: N/A

Partners

Partners who contributed to adult programs:

Partner Name	Partner Contribution
St. Joseph Medical Center	Conducted screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol for senior program.

Performance Measures

Healthy Seniors MLK
Healthy Seniors participants showed significant improvement in knowledge related to overweight/obesity, causes of high blood pressure, and actions to control high blood cholesterol; physical activity level, attitude, and knowledge; and heart-healthy eating behavior. Other improvements were seen in heart-healthy eating knowledge and attitudes, as well as SIT score.

City Employees
City employee program scores showed signficant improvement in heart-healthy eating behavior, physical activity level, and FIT score. Moderate improvements were achieved in overweight/obesity and physical activity attitudes; knowledge of physical activity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol; and SIT score.

South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) Recruit
Participant scores showed improvement in heart-healthy eating behavior, physical activity level, physical activity attitude, physcial activity knowledge, high blood pressure knowledge, cholesterol knowledge, FIT score, and SIT score.