Project SMART parent program: Preliminary results of a chronic disease risk reduction trial

Project SMART Parent Program is a school-based healthy lifestyle promotion program designed to reduce chronic disease risk in adults and to provide a health-conscious home environment for children through the adoption of healthy lifestyles by their parents. Parents in the high involvement condition received comprehensive health status appraisals, and a program designed to reduce dietary fat intake, and increase aerobic activity levels. Parents in the low involvement condition received only the comprehensive health status appraisals. ANCOVA, using treatment condition as the independent variable and change scores as the dependent variables, were used to assess program outcomes. At the first posttest measure, the intervention group compared to the control group had a significantly greater decrease in blood cholesterol, a greater gain in aerobic fitness, a greater weight loss, and a greater decrease in body fat. At the second posttest measure, the intervention group had significantly greater gain in aerobic fitness, a greater decrease in body fat, a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure, and a marginally significant decrease in weight. Preliminary results provide strong support for the effectiveness of the Parent Program in reducing chronic disease risks.