Here’s some results of 2-year intervention to improve the health of clergy, a critical concern. If our pastors are not well, this impacts negatively on how well they are able to lead their congregations.
An intervention program for more than 1,100 United Methodist clergy in North Carolina led to improvements in weight, cholesterol and blood pressure that were sustained over 24 months.
The findings will be published by Duke University researchers in the June 19 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. They represent the culmination of the Spirited Life intervention portion of the 10-year, $17 million clergy health project funded by The Duke Endowment.
Chronic stress and the availability of food at so many church meetings have created a situation in which 78 percent of pastors are overweight or obese, which then makes them vulnerable to chronic diseases. The Duke team’s research has documented above-average rates of depression, obesity and several chronic diseases for clergy.
Study Conclusions: The Spirited Life intervention improved metabolic syndrome prevalence in a population of U.S. Christian clergy and sustained improvements during 24 months of intervention. These findings offer support for long-duration behavior change interventions and population-level interventions that allow participants to set their own health goals.
Read an article with more information at this link – Clergy Health Initiative.
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