title: Assessing the real world effectiveness of the Healthy Eating Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Community-based lifestyle modification programs can be a valuable strategy to reduce risk factors for chronic disease. However, few government-funded programs report their results in the peer-reviewed literature. Our aim was to report on the effectiveness of the Healthy Eating Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) program, a program funded under the Australian government's Healthy Communities Initiative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 2827) were recruited to the program from a broad range of backgrounds and each week completed an hour of group-based physical activity followed by an hour of lifestyle education for 8 weeks. Physical activity, sitting time, fruit and vegetable consumption, anthropometric measures, blood pressure and functional capacity data were gathered at baseline and post-program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HEAL participation resulted in significant acute improvements in frequency and volume of physical activity, reductions in daily sitting time and increases in fruit and vegetable consumption. HEAL participation led to reductions in total body mass, body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure and to improvements in functional capacity (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these findings and the coordinated approach to program delivery, the HEAL program warrants consideration as a behaviour change strategy in primary health care networks, local government or community settings. SO WHAT? These findings should inform future policy development around implementation of lifestyle modification programs; they strengthen the case for support and promotion of lifestyle modification programs to improve public health, lessening the financial and personal burden of chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Locked Bag 102, Albion DC, Qld 4010, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hetherington
authors.affiliation: South Western Sydney Medicare Local, Sydney, PO Box 5919, Minto DC, NSW 2566, Australia.
authors.forename: Jerrad A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Borodzicz
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1320, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia.
authors.forename: Cecilia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D014675:Vegetables