(This is an actual press release we released Jan. 22, 2009 to local Maui media)

CHIP takes on a gang of killer diseases starting Feb. 1 in Kahului. CHIP is short for Coronary Health Improvement Project, a program that reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, adult diabetes, overweight, hypertension, osteoporosis and depression.

Maui is the only place in Hawaii where CHIP is presented.

"We're excited," says Laura Alfonso, director of Kahului CHIP. "It's always gratifying to see people's health improve dramatically as they go through the program."

At the educational core of the program are 16 video lectures by CHIP founder Dr. Hans Diehl, who first presented CHIP in 1988. Since then it's been offered throughout North America and beyond.

Dr. Diehl worked at the Pritikin Longevity Center, renowned for improving so-called "lifestyle" diseases through changes in diet, smoking and exercise. Pritikin's live-in program cost from $8,000 to $13,000.

Dr. Diehl envisioned a similar program in communities everywhere, at a much lower cost, and CHIP was born. Since then the program has had more than 20,000 graduates, most of whom see dramatic health improvements.

Over the 30 days of the program, drops in cholesterol — high cholesterol is the biggest risk factor in heart attacks — average 15 to 20 percent. Weight loss averages 7 pounds. Many participants are able to drastically reduce their intake of medications, some getting off drugs entirely.

CHIP director Alfonso recalls every person in one of her classes had high blood pressure, and virtually all were no longer hypertensive by the end the program's four weeks.

Simple lifestyle changes make all these positive changes possible.

CHIP, along with other research and studies, have clearly shown that a rich diet, sedentary living, excess weight, high blood pressure, drinking and smoking largely determine a person's risk for developing today's killer diseases. Teaching new eating, exercise and other healthy habits is how CHIP busts up the killer gang of diseases.

For more information, call Laura Alfonso at 242-8423 or visit - Home.

Great press release! As soon as I saw the title "This Kahului program battles killers" I had to read the rest.

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