A 40-day journey to better health: Utilizing the danielfast to improve health outcomes in urban church-based settings

Nicole A. Vaughn; Darryl Brown; Beatriz O. Reyes; Crystal Wyatt; Kimberly T. Arnold; Elizabeth Dalianis; Paula J. Kalksma; Caryn Roth; Jason Langheier; Maria Pajil-Battle; Meg Grant

doi:10.3390/healthcare6010025

A 40-day journey to better health: Utilizing the danielfast to improve health outcomes in urban church-based settings

Nicole A. Vaughn^*, Darryl Brown, Beatriz O. Reyes, Crystal Wyatt, Kimberly T. Arnold, Elizabeth Dalianis, Paula J. Kalksma, Caryn Roth, Jason Langheier, Maria Pajil-Battle, Meg Grant

^*Corresponding author for this work

Global Health Studies Program

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: As the costs associated with obesity increase, it is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention among underserved groups, particularly in urban settings. This research study evaluated Philadelphia area Keystone First members and church participants enrolled in a group health education program to determine the impact of the Daniel Fast on physical health and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Methods: Participants attended six-weekly health education sessions in two participating churches, and were provided with a digital healthy eating platform. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline to post assessment for weight, waist circumference and cholesterol. Participants reported a significant improvement in their overall well-being, social and physical functioning, vitality and mental health. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that dietary recommendations and comprehensive group health education delivered in churches and reinforced on a digital platform can improve physical health, knowledge and psychosocial outcomes.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	25
Journal	Healthcare (Switzerland)
Volume	6
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6010025
State	Published - Mar 2018

Funding

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank AmeriHealth Caritas Partnership for funding this program and the study. The funding sponsors had no role in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results. We would also like to extend special thanks to Sandra Ludewig & Zachary Babel at Rowan University in the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences in Glassboro, NJ for their role in preparing this manuscript.

Keywords

African American
Community intervention
Health disparity
Nutrition education
Technology
Urban settings
Weight loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health Information Management
Health Policy
Health Informatics
Leadership and Management

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/healthcare6010025

Cite this

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title = "A 40-day journey to better health: Utilizing the danielfast to improve health outcomes in urban church-based settings",

abstract = "Background: As the costs associated with obesity increase, it is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention among underserved groups, particularly in urban settings. This research study evaluated Philadelphia area Keystone First members and church participants enrolled in a group health education program to determine the impact of the Daniel Fast on physical health and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Methods: Participants attended six-weekly health education sessions in two participating churches, and were provided with a digital healthy eating platform. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline to post assessment for weight, waist circumference and cholesterol. Participants reported a significant improvement in their overall well-being, social and physical functioning, vitality and mental health. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that dietary recommendations and comprehensive group health education delivered in churches and reinforced on a digital platform can improve physical health, knowledge and psychosocial outcomes.",

keywords = "African American, Community intervention, Health disparity, Nutrition education, Technology, Urban settings, Weight loss",

author = "Vaughn, {Nicole A.} and Darryl Brown and Reyes, {Beatriz O.} and Crystal Wyatt and Arnold, {Kimberly T.} and Elizabeth Dalianis and Kalksma, {Paula J.} and Caryn Roth and Jason Langheier and Maria Pajil-Battle and Meg Grant",

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year = "2018",

month = mar,

doi = "10.3390/healthcare6010025",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "6",

journal = "Healthcare (Switzerland)",

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T1 - A 40-day journey to better health

T2 - Utilizing the danielfast to improve health outcomes in urban church-based settings

AU - Vaughn, Nicole A.

AU - Brown, Darryl

AU - Reyes, Beatriz O.

AU - Wyatt, Crystal

AU - Arnold, Kimberly T.

AU - Dalianis, Elizabeth

AU - Kalksma, Paula J.

AU - Roth, Caryn

AU - Langheier, Jason

AU - Pajil-Battle, Maria

AU - Grant, Meg

PY - 2018/3

Y1 - 2018/3

N2 - Background: As the costs associated with obesity increase, it is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention among underserved groups, particularly in urban settings. This research study evaluated Philadelphia area Keystone First members and church participants enrolled in a group health education program to determine the impact of the Daniel Fast on physical health and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Methods: Participants attended six-weekly health education sessions in two participating churches, and were provided with a digital healthy eating platform. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline to post assessment for weight, waist circumference and cholesterol. Participants reported a significant improvement in their overall well-being, social and physical functioning, vitality and mental health. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that dietary recommendations and comprehensive group health education delivered in churches and reinforced on a digital platform can improve physical health, knowledge and psychosocial outcomes.

AB - Background: As the costs associated with obesity increase, it is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention among underserved groups, particularly in urban settings. This research study evaluated Philadelphia area Keystone First members and church participants enrolled in a group health education program to determine the impact of the Daniel Fast on physical health and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Methods: Participants attended six-weekly health education sessions in two participating churches, and were provided with a digital healthy eating platform. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline to post assessment for weight, waist circumference and cholesterol. Participants reported a significant improvement in their overall well-being, social and physical functioning, vitality and mental health. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that dietary recommendations and comprehensive group health education delivered in churches and reinforced on a digital platform can improve physical health, knowledge and psychosocial outcomes.

KW - African American

KW - Community intervention

KW - Health disparity

KW - Nutrition education

KW - Technology

KW - Urban settings

KW - Weight loss

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A 40-day journey to better health: Utilizing the danielfast to improve health outcomes in urban church-based settings

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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