Using Health Belief Model to Reduce Obesity Amongst African American and Hispanic Populations

Abstract

Many health problems such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, and drastically higher for low income minority populations. The Health Belief Model (HBM) assists practitioners in explaining and predicting health behaviors within its clients. 209 faith-based participants from 15 churches participated in a 16-week program, Village HeartBEAT, which integrated the HBM through one-on-one Health Coaching (HC) sessions. 16 individuals participated in the HC aspect of the program, averaging 2 sessions within the 16-week program. HC participants lost 3.60% of total weight, compared to 1.57% of those who did not attend HC, averaging 7lbs lost vs. 4lbs of non-HC participants. Total program participation of all programs for those who participated in HC averaged 15 per person, vs. 5 of non-HC participants. The findings suggest that the HBM needs to be integrated in preventive health programming to ensure adherence and success of the participants.