Why Lighten Up?

Today, 65% of Americans are either overweight or obese. The trends have been very dramatic over the last decade and South Carolina is at the top of the list. Those extra pounds combine to increase the risk for diabetes, stroke, heart disease, some types of cancer and depression. The economic and physical consequences are enormous. The annual cost of heart disease and stroke alone is estimated to be $351 billion ($1,200 per man, woman and child). Lifestyle change through nutrition, exercise and spiritual growth is an effective way to reduce the costs.

Accomplishments and Outcomes

The Lighten Up community outreach program has been conducted for more than 1,200 participants in 60 churches and community centers throughout North and South Carolina. Of these, 621 have completed both baseline and 10-week measurements illustrating significant health improvements. We are reaching a high-risk group in that 84% are overweight or obese, 49% have high blood cholesterol, 55% have high blood pressure and 18% have diabetes.

In Chart A (below), of the 621 participants, 84% are female, 54% African American, have an average age of 54 years and are decreasing risk for stroke by 30%.

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Chart B (below) illustrates how long term improvements have been shown in a subgroup of 186 people (82% female, 63% African American, average age 57 years) who repeated the health check one year later.

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In addition, over 140 people have been identified with unrecognized high blood pressure and another 60 people with unrecognized diabetes. Diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment.

What Do We Do?

Lighten Up conducts health conferences, which include health checks and the guidance you will need to implement the 8-week program. The health check includes measurements of weight, body fat, blood pressure and blood tests for cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and glucose to help people to identify risk and monitor their progress. The eight weekly educational sessions combine prayer, Bible study and health messages to empower individuals to improve health.

Program Director

The Program Director, Mary Joan Oexmann, MS, RD completed her education at the University of Kentucky in 1973. She worked as the research nutritionist for the General Clinical Research Center at the Medical University of South Carolina for 25 years before stepping out on faith to design Lighten Up. She was able to combine her expertise in obesity, hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders and clinical research with her spiritual walk to design Lighten Up.

Program Resources

The educational resources available to take the program to your community of faith include the 155-page Lighten Up program book, videotapes, website and newsletters.

Endorsements

Lighten Up has shifted from a research model to “standard practice of care.” This represents an important endorsement of the program as a research driven health education program demonstrating safety and efficacy. In addition, this work has led to Lighten Up receiving the 2001 Outstanding Community Service Award from the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks and an endorsement from the SC United Methodist Church Health and Wellness Commission.