CHIP

CHIP is a community-based, lifestyle medicine education program designed to empower its participants to reverse and prevent common killer diseases and to maximise health through simple lifestyle changes.

With clinical results published in 11 peer-reviewed medical journals CHIP is without peer as a community-based lifestyle intervention program.

For more information about CHIP go to the CHIP Website or Contact Us for a brochure to be sent to you.

Up-coming CHIP program  early 2012

FREE Information Sessions:

FREE Heart Screening Available

For more information on CHIP and to book in call 0800 1 BALANCE

CHIP report October 2009

It's been a successful month, with the Balance Wellness Centre recently presenting the Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) for the first time in Invercargill. Twenty-five participants completed this lifestyle programme consisting of 36 hours of health improvement workshops led by doctors, nutritious recipes and tasting sessions, supermarket tours and exercise program delivered in a supportive group setting. The enthusiasm with which the Coronary Health Improvement Project was received in Invercargill & Bluff has been remarkable. Some of our participants even travelled from Gore to attend for four weeks in a row.

Now that the results are in, all 25 of the participants are motivated and plan to stick with the lifestyle changes for further improvements in their cardiac and overall health. Over 25% of participants lost more than 7 kilograms in 4 weeks. The majority of participants had an impressive reduction in cholesterol levels, causing a reduction of heart attack and stroke risk by 50%. One individual even lowered his cholesterol by 46% in 4 weeks, making his risk for heart attack drop by 150%! The smiles on everyone's faces at graduation, a week after the programme ended, told the rest of the story. The participants still felt great and the improvements continue to show! With the alumni program starting soon, the support does not end here. There will be more workshops, special guests and cooking demonstrations to keep everyone motivated and on track.

The information and skills CHIP provides is what I would like to offer every one of my patients, but cannot do in a limited amount of time. The programme works so well because it is safe, simple and scientifically proven. It is not a diet or a fad. It promises no quick fix. Instead CHIP targets the source of the health problems which is usually the individual's lifestyle. Rather than just treating the symptoms, CHIP is able to educate individuals about the causes of disease and disability.

The material is similar to what one would receive if they checked into an inpatient lifestyle programme in Australia or America for a month and spent thousands of dollars to receive education and monitoring from medical staff. These lifestyle centres have show great success in preventing and controlling heart disease, diabetes and other vascular diseases. Fortunately, CHIP has now become available in Southland and similar results can be achieved locally.

CHIP has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by 50% in 4 weeks for the majority of participants. These benefits are only the beginning, because CHIP is a lifestyle change, and a new way of thinking. The benefits rarely end after the first 4 weeks. Most participants see even greater improvements in blood sugars, cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure after 8 weeks. With these kind of results few, if ever, go back to their old lifestyles.

Dr. Amy Mullen