Posted 12/6/2007

Greater Columbia Shrinkdown helped hundreds

The 2007 Greater Columbia Shrinkdown helped hundreds of capital city residents make and maintain important lifestyle changes, according to informal surveys by a master’s candidate in the Arnold School Department of Exercise Science.

Barbara Cuevas

Barbara Cuevas, who works as coordinator of the Department of Exercise Science GoodBodies Program, reported that 78.8 percent of 228 participants surveyed said they had made changes in their lifestyles thanks to the 2007 Shrinkdown program.

The program was successful, in part, “because the people said they needed to have the accountability of weekly weigh-ins. Also, it was a group effort so people didn’t have to feel alone,” said Cuevas, who will report her survey finding to colleagues at 10 a.m. Dec 10 in Room 107 of the Public Health Research Center.

Cuevas was part of a USC cohort that joined with volunteers from Palmetto Health and the Lexington Medical Center to work with the Shrinkdown for the past two years.

The 2007 Columbia program was one of 11 offered by YMCAs statewide. It attracted 3,952 participants who lost a total of 13,713 pounds over nine weeks beginning in January.

Participants registered at the Colonial Center where they received materials on health, fitness and nutrition plus free health screenings.

During the program, they also received additional healthy lifestyle information together with programs on nutrition, fitness, and health. Participants weighed in weekly at 13 area locations and were able to follow their progress via a dedicated website.

Cuevas surveyed the participants at the beginning of the Shrinkdown, at the conclusion, and again six months later. Respondents indicated by a 97.3 percent margin that they would participate in a 2008 Shrinkdown.

Data from the surveys also revealed:

• 23.3 per cent were very confident they could lose the weight during the Shrinkdown.
• 51.1 per cent were confident they could lose the weight during the Shrinkdown.
• 13.3 per cent were not confident they could lose the weight during the Shrinkdown.
• 54.4 per cent said the weekly weigh-ins helped them achieve their goals.
• 21.8 per cent said the Health Talks helped them achieve their goals.
• 11.9 per cent said the website helped them achieve their goals.
• 9.9 per cent said “other” helped them achieve their goals.