The Health Disparities Podcast

Why do religious people achieve better nutrition & physical activity goals, & have better cardiovascular outcomes? Clarence Jones, Dr. LaPrincess Brewer & Dr. Mary O’Connor unravel a new study. E145


Listen Later

Research findings from Mayo Clinic & published in the Journal of the American Heart Association at the end of 2022 found that “participating in religious activities, from church services to private prayer, as well as holding deep spiritual beliefs, are linked to better cardiovascular health among Black Americans.” According to Dr Brewer of the Mayo Clinic, multiple socially determined challenges which were magnified by COVID-19 are preventing African Americans from living their best lives by following a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease.

The recent study focused on better understanding some of the psychosocial influences on health behavior change among African Americans, and in particular following those activities as defined by The American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8TM.” These include eating well, being active, quitting tobacco, healthy sleep, weight management, controlling cholesterol, managing blood sugar, & managing blood pressure. 

The study found that increased church attendance and spirituality was associated with higher levels of physical activity and less smoking, suggesting that having social support and an optimistic outlook may also encourage individuals to practice healthy behaviors.

Today’s discussion features Robert “Clarence” Jones, M. Ed., CPH, CHW, CPE, Executive Director at the Hue-MAN Partnership and a Community Engagement Strategist, along with Mayo Clinic cardiologist and study lead author Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, MD, MPH, whose primary research focus is in developing strategies to reduce and ultimately eliminate cardiovascular disease health disparities in racial and ethnic minority populations and in underserved communities. Dr. Brewer is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Mary O’Connor, Chair of Movement is Life and Co-Founder of Vori Health.

Copyright Movement is Life 2023

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Health Disparities PodcastBy Movement is Life, Inc

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

38 ratings


More shows like The Health Disparities Podcast

View all
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,460 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,380 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,904 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,343 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,748 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,516 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,729 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,140 Listeners

The Breakfast Club by iHeartPodcasts

The Breakfast Club

14,037 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

9,995 Listeners

America Dissected by Incision Media LLC

America Dissected

4,455 Listeners

Tradeoffs by Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs

383 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

14,670 Listeners

What Now? with Trevor Noah by Spotify Studios

What Now? with Trevor Noah

3,680 Listeners

Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

580 Listeners