BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of @entity2973 and @entity28 among @entity14755 residents may contribute to increased @entity5 rates in this region. This manuscript describes the design, components, and @entity1 baseline characteristics of a faith-based study to decrease @entity2973 and @entity28 among @entity14755 residents. METHODS: A group randomized study design was used to assign 13 churches to an intervention to reduce @entity2973 and @entity28 (Walk by Faith) and 15 churches to a @entity5 screening intervention (Ribbons of Faith). Church members with a body mass index (BMI) >= 25 were recruited from these churches in @entity14755 counties in five states to participate in the study. A standard protocol was used to measure @entity1 characteristics at baseline. The same protocol will be followed to obtain measurements after completion of the active intervention phase (12months) and the sustainability phase (24months). Primary outcome is change in BMI from baseline to 12months. Secondary outcomes include changes in blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, and fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as intervention sustainability. RESULTS: Church members (n=664) from 28 churches enrolled in the study. At baseline 64.3% of the @entity1 were @entity28 (BMI>= 30), less than half (41.6%) reported regular exercise, and 85.5% reported consuming less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. CONCLUSIONS: Church members recruited to participate in a faith-based study across the @entity14755 region reported high rates of unhealthy behaviors. We have demonstrated the feasibility of developing and recruiting @entity1 to a faith-based intervention aimed at improving diet and increasing exercise among underserved populations.

Study design, intervention, and baseline characteristics of a group randomized trial involving a faith-based healthy eating and physical activity intervention (Walk by Faith) to reduce weight and @entity5 risk among @entity2973 and @entity28 XXXX adults.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'participant'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obese', 'obesity'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity14755 :: ('MESH:D028227', 'Disease') :: ['Appalachian'] @entity2973 :: ('MESH:D050177', 'Disease') :: ['overweight']
@entity14755 :: (MESH:D028227,Disease) :: ['Appalachian']
