Need a lifestyle change? 12-week Edward class can get you started

Registration is open for Edward Hospital's "Lifestyle Under Construction" program.

The 12-week session is held Tuesdays from Sept. 3 through Nov. 19 in the Edward Heart Hospital Ground Floor Conference Room, 801 S. Washington St., Naperville.

Initial evaluations, which are required to determine if the program is appropriate for registrants, begin in August.

"Lifestyle Under Construction," a medically supervised program, is not a diet. Classes are taught by a cardiac nurse, registered dietitian or exercise physiologist who equip participants with long-term tools to trim their waist and lower their risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Weekly topics include nutrition, setting goals, managing stress, emotional eating and more. A personalized exercise program is developed for each participant.

"Lifestyle Under Construction" is recommended for those at risk for Metabolic Syndrome, a group of risk factors that puts a person in danger of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes. However, a person does not have to have Metabolic Syndrome to participate.

Metabolic Syndrome includes three or more of these risk factors:

• Waist size greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women.

• Blood pressure higher than 130/85.

• Fasting blood sugar above 100.

• Fasting triglycerides above 150.

• HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 for men and less than 50 for women.

Advance registration is required. A one-time fee, which covers blood work, initial 90-minute appointment and 12 weeks of instruction, is collected at the time of registration. Class size is limited.

For details or to register and schedule an evaluation, call (630) 527-2825.