Tale of two churches: differential impact of a church-based diabetes control programme among Pacific Islands people in New Zealand.

Aims: To compare the impact on weight and exercise of a 2-year church-based diabetes risk reduction programme in four churches in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Methods: A prospective non-randomized controlled study of a modular lifestyle and diabetes awareness intervention programme applying community development principles. The study involved four complete church congregations, two Samoan and two Tongan, with 516 participants at commencement.

A pilot urban church-based programme to reduce risk factors for diabetes among Western Samoans in New Zealand.

We have assessed the impact of a 2-year pilot church-base diabetes risk reduction programme on major lifestyle predictors of future Type 2 diabetes mellitus: exercise and weight control in a prospective non-randomized controlled study of a modular lifestyle and diabetes awareness intervention programme using a community development model. The study involved two complete church congregations from an ethnic group at high risk of diabetes (Western Samoans) (intervention church n = 78; control church n = 144). Weight remained stable (0+/-4.