Worcester Co. offers nutrition program

BERLIN, Md. — The Worcester County Health Department is accepting registrations for its Healthy Lifestyle Balance Program, which is designed to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases. The 16-week program will begin next month.

Participants will work one-on-one with nutritionists and lifestyle coaches. The goal is to improve nutrition, physical activity and stress management, all contributing factors to diabetes. Nutritionist Kelly Williams said the health department hosts the program three times a year.

“Participants attend 26 sessions over the course of one year. It is in a group format, so they get that group encouragement, but they also receive individualized coaching from a trained lifestyle coach,” Williams said.

Research shows that people who complete the evidence-based program reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent. Participants age 60 and older can reduce their risk by more than 70 percent.