title: Gender differences in effectiveness of the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) lifestyle intervention: an Australasian study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) is a lifestyle modification program that promotes healthy diet, physical activity and stress management techniques. Among US CHIP participants, differences in gender responsiveness to improvements in chronic disease risk factors were demonstrated. This study examined gender differences in outcomes to the CHIP intervention in Australasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in body weight, blood pressure (BP), blood lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were assessed in 925 participants (34.3% men, mean age=56.0±12.5 years; 65.7% women, mean age=54.4±13.5 years) 30 days after program commencement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions (P<0.001) in all biometrics measured were found for men and women but were greater among men for total (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides (TG), FPG, body mass index (BMI) and TC/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio. Participants with highest baseline classifications of BMI, systolic BP, blood lipids and FPG showed greatest reductions in 30 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHIP more effectively reduced chronic disease risk factors among men than women. All participants, but particularly men, entering the program with the greatest risk achieved the largest reductions. Possible physiological or behavioural factors include food preferences, making commitments and differential support modes. SO WHAT?: Developers of lifestyle intervention programs should consider gender differences in physiological and behavioural factors when planning interventions. In particular, developers should manage expectations of people entering lifestyle interventions to increase awareness that men tend to respond better than women. In addition, this is a call for further research to identify the underlying mechanisms responsible for the disproportionate responsiveness of males.
authors.affiliation: Lifestyle Research Centre, Avondale College of Higher Education, 582 Freemans Drive (PO Box 19), Cooranbong, NSW 2265, Australia.
authors.forename: Lillian M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Lifestyle Research Centre, Avondale College of Higher Education, 582 Freemans Drive (PO Box 19), Cooranbong, NSW 2265, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.affiliation: Lifestyle Research Centre, Avondale College of Higher Education, 582 Freemans Drive (PO Box 19), Cooranbong, NSW 2265, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.affiliation: Lifestyle Research Centre, Avondale College of Higher Education, 582 Freemans Drive (PO Box 19), Cooranbong, NSW 2265, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Lifestyle Medicine Institute, PO Box 818, Loma Linda, California, USA 92354.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diehl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids