Two years ago, Mary Griffing refused to start taking medication when her doctor, Karl Ordelheide, MD, told her that her cholesterol and other blood lipid levels were not improving. Ordelheide could not have been happier.

He told Griffing that he could help her reduce her cholesterol levels through diet and exercise instead of medication.

Ordelheide is co-director, with Albert Thompson, MD, of Lincoln City CHIP, (Coronary Health Improvement Project), a lifestyle enrichment program that is designed to teach people how they can lower blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood lipid levels through behavioral changes. CHIP has graduated more than 50,000 participants worldwide since 1988.

“Dr. Ordelheide gave me information about CHIP and I signed up,” said Griffing. “At my first CHIP session, my cholesterol was 235; at my last checkup it was 171.”

CHIP begins with a comprehensive health screening followed by meetings four times per week for four weeks. Each meeting includes lectures and videos on topics including heart disease, diet and exercise, along with a delicious meal prepared by the group leaders.

“The very idea that your community doctors are making you food and even doing the dishes, makes you want to do well. You make a very strong connection with your doctors in CHIP,” said Griffing.

“I get a charge out of CHIP,” said Ordelheide. “The kinds of diseases we’re dying from can only be stopped by lifestyle changes, and if I’m going to make an impact on health, it’s got to be more than I can do with a pill.”

CHIP gives students the tools and information to make their own choices. At the end of the four week session, students receive a second health screening that shows the impact they have had on their own health.

Overall, CHIP graduates achieve an average 10- to 20-percent drop in cholesterol, 10- to
20-point reduction in blood pressure and 8- to 10-pound weight loss.

“Everyone who goes through CHIP makes some changes in their lives. Every step is toward better health and helps people avoid long-term disabilities,” said Ordelheide.

The support from CHIP doesn’t end at graduation. Alumni get together regularly for potlucks and mutual support.

“CHIP is easy-going and lighthearted; they just want you to do better,” said Griffing.

Ordelheide added, “It’s rewarding to see people make a change and stick with it. I love it
when I’m able to stop people’s medicines because they’re no longer needed.”

For more information on CHIP visit www.chiphealth.com.