The HIP program was created by the Lincoln Trail Area Health District Nutritionist and the Meade County FCS agent to address the need for knowledge of good nutrition's and health practices in relation to disease prevention.    Thirteen people started with seven completing the year long program which consisted of three meetings per month for six months then one meeting per month for the remainder of the program.  Participants learned about a variety of health related topics, how to shop and read nutrition labels as well as how to plan meals and prepare nutritious foods. At the wrap-up this past December final weight, blood pressure and waist circumference numbers were taken to compare with the beginning and mid point totals.  The District Health department is crunching numbers to create a comparison but all participants experienced reduction in weight.  One participant had completed a physical the week before the final meeting and for the first time since she had been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, five years prior, her A1C numbers were in the normal range.   She was ecstatic and stated it would not have happened if she had not learned so much through the program.