Testimonials

We know SisterTalk Hartford is an effective evidence- and faith-based weight loss program for African-American and Black women, but don't just ask us. Read what others involved in the developing and using the program have said that makes the it so successful.

"As a lead volunteer I found SisterTalk Hartford was a great weight management program tied to various scriptures in the Bible…I would highly recommend the program to others who feel weight management is a challenge.” - Carol Anderson, SisterTalk Hartford Leader

“For once in my life I was not ashamed or intimidated [by] my own self regarding my weight… We were very open about our food habits good or bad. It was a great self motivating program.” - A SisterTalk Hartford Participant

“[I want] a support group … with people who look like me, who are going through maybe some of the same things that I’m going through. People who are upbeat and, are also, you know, sharing in my trials and tribulations." - A SisterTalk Hartford Participant

"Well we felt it was kinda neat that it was in the church, you know what I mean, because you go to church there and you felt comfortable there already, so when you do it with other women…it felt comfortable. It was good. You’re familiar with everybody in there, so it worked out pretty well.” – A SisterTalk Hartford Participant

"The success of the SisterTalk Hartford program could not be achieved without the strong, involved partnership that the research team had with the leaders of the 12 participant churches. This partnership began with the identification of a health issue that was of great importance to the churches, their congregations and their community and extended through the development of the program and its implementation,” said Judith Fifield, PhD, Professor of Family Medicine and Principal Investigator of the SisterTalk Hartford Study "Churches are central to the spiritual health of the community and this program has shown that they can also play an essential role in the physical health and wellness also."

"Historically, the African American community here in Hartford, and elsewhere around the country, has felt disconnected from and disenfranchised by the health care system," said Pastor Kenric Prescott, of Union Baptist Church in Hartford. "Because of issues of trust and access, often our parishioners are hesitant to visit even their primary care physicians. SisterTalk was the catalyst for an unprecedented partnership between our church communities and local health care providers – creating a spirit of trust and encouragement coupled with the religious foundation our congregations needed to make positive changes in all aspects of their lives."