Healthy Boiler

CHL program focuses on complete health improvement

As part of the university’s initiative to improve overall health and wellness throughout the Purdue community, the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) -- on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus -- in conjunction with Lifestyle Medicine Institute, is once again offering its virtual lifestyle intervention program as part of the 2021 Healthy Boiler workshop programming. Upcoming sessions of the 2021 Complete Health Improvement Program -- otherwise known as CHIP – will be held in July. The program is designed to help participants make changes to their lifestyles through education, practical experience and reinforcement with a main focus on behavior change. CHIP supports all five of the Healthy Boiler Program pillars -- physical health, behavioral health, social wellness, financial wellness and work-life integration pillars of the Healthy Boiler Program.

“Studies continue to show that healthier workers are overall more productive and happy,” said Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “CHIP is yet another way for employees to engage in living a healthier lifestyle. The diversity of our employees requires a variety of program options so that everyone has the chance to find something that is right for them. We hope CHIP continues to be well received in 2021 by members of our Purdue community.”

“CHIP taught me so much about mindful connections to our food and how we approach this activity that we do every day. CHIP is not a diet at all. It is a comprehensive training tool that gives all people, no matter their life circumstances, the knowledge and understanding about how being mindful about our diet and activity can influence every aspect of our lives.”

– Alex Blauvelt, adjunct instructor, Purdue University Fort Wayne

CHIP focuses on whole-person health and is based on the combination of four fundamental components: lifestyle, exercise, attitude and nutrition. Led by Whitney Soto, registered nurse health coach at the CHL, Megan Shidler, registered dietitian at the CHL and Lindsay Bloom, health coach at Purdue Fort Wayne, the program puts emphasis on how individuals live, move, think and eat in regards to creating and maintaining a healthier way of life. Facilitated over 18 sessions in a virtual group environment with dynamic group discussions and peer support, CHIP integrates optimal nutrition, exercise and behavioral psychology principles and tools. Plant-based eating is at the core of the program’s nutrition education.

Results from the 2020 CHIP programming showed the following participant improvements:

  • 67 percent of the individuals were pre-diabetic prior to participating in the program and now are no-longer pre-diabetic

  • 44 percent of CHIP participants in 2020 had an uncontrolled blood pressure prior to participating in the program and have since controlled their blood pressure

“Participants will get a pre- and post-health-risk assessment, a comprehensive toolkit, help with cooking, food prep, exercise, online program content and much more,” Shidler said. “CHIP can help you by significantly reducing the common risk factors for lifestyle diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure). Additionally, CHIP can also improve your health knowledge, energy, desire to exercise, resilience and life fulfilment.”

More details about CHIP can be found online via the Lifestyle Medicine Institute’s website at www.chiphealth.com.

Additional information about the July sessions, including dates and registration information, will be shared closer to the date via Purdue Today. Healthy Boiler workshops are free to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff and dependents covered on a Purdue medical plan. In the meantime, any questions about the program can be directed to the CHL at 765-494-0111.