Diabetes Prevention and Adolescents: Using Faith-Based Organization Partnerships

Objective: Each participant will be able to verbalize strategies for adolescent diabetes prevention via partnerships among diabetes coalitions and faith based organizations. 

Methods: To enhance diabetes prevention in the Appalachian Region of the United States, the Noxubee County, MS Diabetes Coalition partnered with a local African American Faith Based Organization to disseminate diabetes information and to impact lifestyle choices of adolescents.  During the local Faith Based Organization’s annual Vacation Bible School, 2- 1.5  hour group sessions were held with 55 adolescents.  These sessions included presentations, testimonies from an adult diabetic who became a diabetic as an adolescent and nutritional evaluation of common fast foods.  A pre-test was disseminated to assess current health lifestyles.  Participants selected three lifestyle choices to implement related to nutrition and physical activity.  Post surveys will be repeated in December. Preliminary data support continued implementation of  lifestyle choices in the majority of the participants,

Results: Similar to national data on teens and adolescents, the participants reported diets high in fat, sugar, and carbohydrates.  Not surprisingly, minimal physical activity was reported.  Overall the teenagers were alarmed by the number of fat grams, carbohydrates, and calories found in commonly eaten foods.  Since the initial surveys, faith based origination members have encouraged particiapants to continue self-selected lifestyle changes.

Conclusion: Adolescent lifestyle choices continue to place them at high risk for the development of diabetes.  Because of the on-going activities and attendance of activities at faith based organizations, such collaborations appear to be beneficial to adolescents. These partnerships allow organizations easier entry into the community while promoting continuous healthier lifestyles in adolescents.