Memorial University’s primary health care research unit is conducting a study to determine if a health coaching intervention by a certified health coach can influence lifestyle behaviour and prevent or delay the onset of disease.
The study will specifically focus on diabetes and high blood pressure.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Canada accounting for an estimated 34 per cent of all deaths in 2001. It's more prevalent from west to east with the highest prevalence in Atlantic Canada, particularly Newfoundland and Labrador.
Heather Pitcher, certified health coach, said in a news release the study is a randomized control trial. "We are recruiting people from the general public who are at risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or are overweight,” she said.
The lifestyle behaviour examined will include diet, exercise, smoking and other factors affect health.
In order to qualify in this study, participants must be between age 40 to 60 and not have a current diagnosis of either diabetes or high blood pressure.
Participants should be pre-diabetic, and/or pre-hypertensive and/or overweight as defined as a waist circumference of greater than 88 cms for females or 102 cms for males, as well as a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30.
