Lifestyle Management of Weight and Heart Disease Risk Factors in General Practice Patients

INTERVENTION: The CLIP handbook will be posted to the participant ,plus telephone coaching will be provided by the National Heart Foundation Healthy Heart Information call centre staff alongside usual general practitioner (GP)care.The coaching and introduction for each participant will take approximately 20 or 30 minutes. They will be contacted by a CLIP trained coach for an introduction to the program and will be subsequently supported by them by telephone every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. CONDITION: Cardiovascular disease PRIMARY OUTCOME: A reduction in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.This will be measured by obtaining a fasting blood sample by trained nursing staff at week 1 and again at week 12. A reduction in weight .The volunteers will be weighed at week 1 and the again at week 12. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Questionnaires on health wellbeing and exercise will be used to identify key patient characteristics, barriers and facilitators of successful short term dietary and exercise compliance. The questionnaires will take approximately 30 minutes to complete at week 1 and week 12. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Age 30‐55 years, Body Mass Index between 26 and 40 kg/m2 or a waist circumference greater than 102cm for men and greater than 88cm for women.Have at least one additional cardiovascular or diabetes risk factor including family history of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, family history of premature heart disease or hypercholesterolemia. Walk independently and able to perform physical activity without pain. No personal history of cardiac abnormalities. Contactable by telephone Able to tolerate particular foods such as fish and whole grains.