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Sevierville, TN. – For the first time, Sevierville residents will have the opportunity to participate in the internationally acclaimed lifestyle education program known as CHIP – Complete Health Improvement Project.

CHIP targets people who have or wish to avoid heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The program is patterned after national live-in programs, such as the Nathan Pritikin Longevity Center, that last three to six weeks and cost thousands of dollars.

“CHIP is being offered because we’ve seen it work.  People feel better and lower their health risks,” Lynda Nelson, a long-time CHIP director who will be managing the local program, said.  “Offering such health education in a community makes it much more affordable and teaches people how to manage their health in their own town. 

At the heart of the CHIP program are nightly lectures by Hans Diehl, DrHSc,  who saw the amazing results of lifestyle intervention at the well-recognized Pritikin Longevity Center where he served as research and education director.  Inspired to make better health accessible to the masses, he developed this affordable, community-based program designed to arrest and reverse society’s most common diseases. Today over 50,000 CHIP participants and the clinical results published numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals attest to the success of Dr. Diehl’s approach.  Dr. Diehl presents the science of lifestyle change with his trademark blend of humor and inspiration.

           Free introductory classes will be offered several times. In Sevierville, the King Family Library will host these sessions on August 28 and September 6 at both 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm.  Other opportunities to learn about CHIP will be held at the Gatlinburg Community Center, August 30, 6:30 pm and Seymour Library, September 4, 7:00 pm.  Registration will occur at these meetings.

The actual four-week CHIP program will be offered September 10 – October 4, meeting three nights a week.  Topics will include effective cholesterol control, how to eat more and weigh less, reversing hypertension, disarming diabetes, osteoporosis and calcium robbers, reversing disease with fork and knife, and the relationship between diet and cancer.  Each evening will also include an exercise component, food demonstrations and samples.

 “In a nation overwhelmed by chronic lifestyle disease and increasing childhood obesity, I am thankful to be part of a program like CHIP that offers better health to Sevierville,” Nelson said. “We would particularly encourage young parents to learn the principles of healthful living so they can influence the next generation, which at this point is projected to have a shorter life-span than their predecessors.”

Cost for CHIP is $249 per person or $349 per couple. Registered nurses can receive up to 12 hours of continuing education credit by attending CHIP.

For more information on CHIP, please call Lynda Nelson at 423-638-6633 or Sharon Clayburn at 423-620-9652. 

Following are some testimonials/comments from Greeneville, TN CHIP graduates – testimony to the fact that this program works here in east TN

“I feel so empowered to take charge of my health.”

“I’m amazed I could do it!” “My energy levels are higher.” 

“The winter blues did not overcome me.”

“The belt is up two notches and I’m wearing a suit that’s been too small.” 

“And I’ve never felt hungry or deprived.”

“It took me several years to finally learn how to feed my body and not just eat.  Surprising as it sounds, I recently learned that healthy eating is not being on a diet.  It means making changes I can live with and enjoy for the rest of my life.  And I found the “answer” to my quest in C.H.I.P. 

After spending six weeks with CHIP, learning about eating foods “as grown” and reducing my chances for life-style related diseases, I was convinced!  I felt better than I had in several years!  In addition to being more mentally alert and sleeping more soundly, I have decidedly more energy. As a result of changing my eating habits and introducing minimal exercise (i.e., walking), my “”very high” cholesterol levels dropped from dangerous levels to the top of the “desirable” levels.  I also no longer suffer from reflux or situational anxiety.  And, as an added bonus, I lost 16 pounds!  If I had known how easy it was to feel this good, I would have changed my eating habits a long time ago.  If you want to feel better, no matter how old you are, join CHIP.  You won’t be disappointed!”