Published: April 29, 2004
Business: Healthcare
CHIP, local doctor to have national audience
By ELIZABETH DAVIES, Rockford Register Star
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ROCKFORD -- A local gastroenterologist will tell more than 200 national
health leaders today about the results of a study on healthy lifestyles in
the Rock River Valley.
Dr. Roger Greenlaw, medical director for SwedishAmerican Center for Complementary
Medicine, will lead one of five breakout sessions during the second annual
national health summit in Baltimore.
The event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and draws about 1,200 attendees. This is the second year for the summit and
Greenlaw's second appearance at the event. Last year, he took part in a roundtable
discussion on creating healthy communities.
This time, Greenlaw will present results of a 337-person research study
last year in Rockford. The study tracked participants in the Coronary Health
Improvement Project, a community program that looks to prevent or reverse
lifestyle-related health problems.
The $700,000 study found that CHIP participants made healthier food choices and were more physically active. The results showed:
The prevalence of hypertension in participants decreased from
18.5 percent at the start of the program to 7.5 percent by the end.
Total cholesterol declined an average of 12 percent.
The number of diabetics in the group decreased by 38 percent.
The number of participants who consume five servings of fruits or vegetables a day doubled.
Pedometer movement increased by 30 percent.
"In previous research studies, we observed that people who chose to take
the program made significant changes and their lab tests got better," Greenlaw
said this week from his Rockford office, before leaving for the summit. "This
establishes it on a scientific basis as a valid approach to disease prevention
and risk factor reversal."
The CHIP program has been available in Rockford for five years. It is
offered to workers through local companies, to parishioners through local
churches and to patients through SwedishAmerican Hospital.
Nearly 30 Rock River Valley restaurants have adapted their menus to include CHIP-approved meals.
Greenlaw will present Rockford's use of the CHIP program as a model for
promoting healthy lifestyles. He said the 2003 study is instrumental in showing
long-term behavioral changes.
"CHIP was able to maintain their lifestyles beautifully after six months,"
Greenlaw said. "If people do a diet, there's always an end. If they do a
lifestyle change, they do the best they can forever."
Contact: edavies@registerstartower.com; 815-987-1341
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