La Vida Sana, La Vida Feliz: A wellness program for Latinas

Introduction: La Vida Sana, La Vida Feliz was designed to address the disproportionately high rates of obesity and overweight among low-income Latinas in Chicago's Humboldt Park community. This program, developed in consultation with providers, nutritionists and public health experts and based on the social ecological and promotora models, accounts for both biological and environmental influences affecting weight loss.

Methods: Female patients at Erie Family Health Center and community members participated. Throughout the three-year HRSA project period, 947 women were referred, 539 attended an orientation session and registered, and 229 graduated from the program. Women attended eight two-hour group sessions, held bi-weekly and led by promotoras. Each session included a nutrition topic, healthy snack demonstration, physical activity segment, relaxation session and either a behavioral health or physical activity educational component.

Results: La Vida Sana, La Vida Feliz was accepted as a Promising Practice by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). Nutrition and exercise behaviors and knowledge increased. 85% of graduates lost at least one inch from their waists, 81% lost weight and 71% met cholesterol guidelines. 60% of graduates met blood pressure guidelines and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores improved by 52%.

Conclusions: In collaboration with community representatives and health experts, Erie Family Health Center developed an innovative program that addresses individual and environmental barriers to weight loss disproportionately faced by women in their community. The program provides tools to change the way a participant thinks and behaves related to nutrition, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.