title: Family-based risk reduction of obesity and metabolic syndrome: an overview and outcomes of the Idaho Partnership for Hispanic Health.
abstract: Mexican American women have the highest incidence of metabolic syndrome among all U.S. demographic groups. This paper details an innovative approach to reducing the risks for metabolic syndrome among Hispanic families in rural Idaho. Compañeros en Salud (CeS) is a promotora-led wellness program and community-based participatory research project from the Idaho Partnership for Hispanic Health. As behavior change is the first line of prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the program aimed to improve nutrition and physical activity behaviors as well as increase community support and infrastructure for healthy living. CeS has demonstrated substantial improvement in health outcomes, with statistically significant reductions in weight, BMI, metabolic syndrome risk, A1c, glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, from pre-intervention to post-intervention and/or pre-intervention to one-year follow-up. These outcomes suggest the CeS model as a promising best practice for effecting individual and family-level physiologic and behavioral outcomes for obesity prevention.
authors.affiliation: WithinReach,Seattle, WA, USA. iphheval@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keifer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult