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!

38,546 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,945 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,859 Listeners

Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

77,786 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,951 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,631 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,552 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,743 Listeners

The Breakfast Club by iHeartPodcasts

The Breakfast Club

14,195 Listeners

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?' by KFF Health News

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?'

477 Listeners

This Podcast Will Kill You by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

This Podcast Will Kill You

16,867 Listeners

America Dissected by Incision Media LLC

America Dissected

4,486 Listeners

Tradeoffs by Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs

390 Listeners

The Retrievals by Serial Productions & The New York Times

The Retrievals

10,786 Listeners

Native Land Pod by iHeartPodcasts and Reasoned Choice

Native Land Pod

3,361 Listeners