Healthy Hearts Family Intervention: To disrupt patterns of cardiovascular disease in low-income families in northern Colorado

As obesity rates nationally and locally continue to rise, there is building evidence that educating a family together increases their success for risk factor reduction. For 23 years, Healthy Hearts in Northern Colorado has provided a successful heart health education and screening program to 4^th/5^th grade students. In 2012-13, 835 4^th/5^th grade students were screened with 23% having borderline or high total cholesterol (>170 mg/dL) and 22.5% being overweight or obese. Families of children identified to have at least one risk factor for heart disease were invited to participate in the 6 week family intervention to determine if an intergenerational education program could interrupt patterns of cardiovascular disease through increased comprehension of risk factors; improved heart healthy lifestyle behaviors; physical activity and improvements in BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Seventy-five families with 274 participants (~80% white, 37% low income) enrolled in the program with 45% of the children (9-18 years) and 85% of adults (mean age ~41) being overweight or obese and 73% of the families having 3 or more risk factors. At the 6 month mark, positive improvements in healthy lifestyle habits and biometrics included 95% of participants reporting increased knowledge, 42% of the families reduced their BMI (total of 588 pounds lost), 65% reduced triglyceride levels, 67% increased HDL cholesterol, 69% increased physical activity, 61% limited fast food intake, and 69% increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Our results suggest educating a family together can not only reduce a child’s risk for heart disease but also the families.