title: Engaging the community to improve nutrition and physical activity among houses of worship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition have been linked to many chronic diseases. Research indicates that interventions in community-based settings such as houses of worship can build on attendees' trust to address health issues and help them make behavioral changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  New Brunswick, New Jersey, has low rates of physical activity and a high prevalence of obesity. An adapted community-based intervention was implemented there to improve nutrition and physical activity among people who attend houses of worship and expand and enhance the network of partners working with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
  
  
  METHODS
  An adapted version of Body & Soul: A Celebration of Healthy Living and Eating was created using a 3-phase model to 1) educate lay members on nutrition and physical activity, 2) provide sustainable change through the development of physical activity programming, and 3) increase access to local produce through collaborations with community partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen houses of worship were selected for participation in this program. Houses of worship provided a questionnaire to a convenience sample of its congregation to assess congregants' physical activity levels and produce consumption behaviors at baseline using questions from the Health Information National Trends Survey instrument. This information was also used to inform future program activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community-based health education can be a promising approach when appropriate partnerships are identified, funding is adequate, ongoing information is extracted to inform future action, and there is an expectation from all parties of long-term engagement and capacity building.
authors.affiliation: Office of Community Outreach, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany St, Room 5533, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. E-mail: evanskr@cinj.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Kiameesha R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Shawna V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009043:Motor Activity; D009515:New Jersey; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D011322:Primary Prevention; D016730:Program Development