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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – HealthCorps®, a national proactive health movement founded by organization Chair Dr. Mehmet Oz, has announced the promising results of a two-year study on its in-school health mentoring program.
The study entitled, “Impact of a High School Mentoring Program on Diet and Physical Activity,” was funded by Affinity Health Plan, a Bronx, New York-based managed care plan serving low- and moderate-income populations in the New York metropolitan area. This research is the first quantitative evaluation of HealthCorps, whose programming will impact at least 25,000 teenagers and 50,000 community residents across nine states in the 2009-2010 school year. The purpose of the study was to measure the impact of the HealthCorps program on healthy behaviors. The non-randomized controlled study involved 971 high school students enrolled in 11 New York City high schools.
Study results suggest HealthCorps is making significant inroads in the fight against childhood obesity.
According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, “These findings underscore the effectiveness of our peer mentoring program in our mission to stem child obesity and diabetes among underserved populations across the country. Although no one program can be a panacea for the health issues plaguing America’s youth, the HealthCorps program is an effective path forward in tackling at least two of the CDC’s principal target areas for the prevention of childhood obesity (decrease soda consumption, increase breast feeding, increase intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, decrease television viewing and increase physical activity.)”
Maura Bluestone, Affinity President and CEO, noted that HealthCorps’ approach supports the value of preventive and primary care, as it uses education, nutrition and self-empowerment as a first line of defense in the battle against obesity and associated conditions. “Affinity decided to fund this study program because we saw in it an innovative approach to improve life-long health habits and reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions,” she said.
This fall, HealthCorps also launched its latest initiative, FitTown USA, a nine-month partnership challenge to cities and towns across the country. Through FitTown USA, HealthCorps hopes to raise national awareness about how the environment – everything from city planning to classroom routines to building design – influences opportunities for health.
About HealthCorps
HealthCorps’® proactive health movement includes an in-school educational and mentoring program in 50 schools in 9 states. HealthCorps empowers students to become educated consumers and health activists who take their message to underserved communities with upbeat events, such as the month-long Healthy Steps virtual race using pedometers and the community-based “Highway to Health” Festivals. The HealthCorps Board of Directors includes medical practitioners such as Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Brian Wansink (Cornell), Dr. Michael Roizen (Cleveland Clinic), Dr. Laura Berman and many other reknown health experts. Proceeds from funds raised are used to establish the HealthCorps curriculum in additional high schools across the country. A 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization, HealthCorps currently receives no Federal funding. Total funding is garnered through a combination of state, city, private foundation, corporate and individual contributions. For more information, please visit www.healthcorps.org.
About Dr. Mehmet Oz
Dr. Oz, host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents. He performs 100-150 heart operations annually.
About Affinity Health Plan
Affinity Health Plan is an independent, not-for-profit managed care plan providing comprehensive health care coverage to underserved New Yorkers. Affinity programs include Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicaid Managed Care, and Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans for Dual Eligibles. Founded in 1986, Affinity serves more than 240,000 Members in an area that includes New York City and the surrounding counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Orange. Affinity supports the evaluation of promising care-giving and care-seeking projects that aim to improve individual and community health. For more information, visit www.affinityplan.org
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