ITS A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT GOSPEL WATER BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH NEAR AUGUSTA, GEORGIA...

BUT SOME PARISHONERS AREN'T HERE JUST FOR THE GOSPEL... THEY'RE HERE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

IT'S CALLED THE FIT BODY AND SOUL PROGRAM, AND PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR YVONNE DENT SAYS ITS ALL ABOUT EDUCATION

we're trying to educate folks on the point of the high incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, cancer and stuff amongst African Americans. 

THE TENETS ARE SIMPLE... DIET, EXERCISE, FOOD JOURNALING AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT...

in everything that we do we always pray we're here to support each other with prayer and with scripture

AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN PROMISING, SAYS RODNEY EDMOND, AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT THE CHURCH...

I lost 30 pounds, my wife lost about 25 pounds, during the whole thing, blood pressure went down, cholesterol level went down, so we were very pleased.

BUT PASTOR ROBERT RAMSAY SAYS THERE'S REALLY NO SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS..

food can be a powerful temptation, and you need that inner strength to overcome that temptation...

FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M DR. SANJAY GUPTA.