New Study Finds Sarasota Memorial's RENEW Program Helps Lower Weight, Blood Pressure and More

SARASOTA, Fla. (September 5, 2025) - A new study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine shows that Sarasota Memorial's RENEW Program (Restore and Empower through Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness) significantly improves weight, blood pressure and overall quality of life, offering a powerful new model for preventing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart disease and other chronic diseases.

The retrospective, observational study conducted over a five-year period from 2018 to 2023 examined the outcomes of 432 participants in the RENEW Program. Results showed clinically meaningful improvements in key health metrics and quality of life measures, including:

Overall, 97.4% of participants experienced health improvements, 91.6% showed lifestyle behavior improvements and 77.4% reported improvements in quality of life.

"The findings from this study confirm what we see every day in the RENEW Program - when people are given the right tools and support, they can make meaningful lifestyle changes that reduce their risk for chronic disease," said Kirk Voelker, MD, medical director of Clinical Research at Sarasota Memorial's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute, medical director of the RENEW Program and lead author of the study. "It's inspiring to watch participants reduce their risks for chronic disease, improve their quality of life and gain the tools and confidence to sustain those healthy habits in the future."

The program, facilitated by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, registered dietitians, certified personal trainers and certified health coaches, combines weekly virtual and in-person education and support, personal health/wellness sessions, nutrition coaching focused primarily on a Mediterranean and plant-based diet, and group activities that include stress management, exercise and mindfulness practices.

The study concluded that the RENEW Program helped reduce participants' key risk factors related to metabolic dysfunction and highlighted the benefits a semi-virtual program with personalized health coaching could have on participant health metrics.

To learn more about SMH's RENEW program, visit smhrenew.com or read the complete study here.

About the RENEW Program (smhrenew.com)

RENEW (Restore and Empower through Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness) is Sarasota Memorial Health Care System's lifestyle medicine program designed to help men and women improve their overall health, boost vitality, and prevent future health complications. Through a proven combination of professional coaching, group support, and science-backed strategies, participants learn how to eat better, move more, and feel more energized - without the confusion or frustration of doing it alone. Guided by Sarasota Memorial's team of health experts, RENEW empowers participants to lose inches around their midsection, reduce risk factors for chronic disease, and build health habits that last a lifetime.

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (smh.com)

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida's greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County's largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.