Developing Localized Implementation Strategies for Community-level Obesity Prevention

Abstract:

Obesity is a complex health issue influenced by a number of factors including community context. The aim of this presentation is to describe a mixed methods consensus-based modeling approach used to identify community readiness and capacity factors related to implementation of community-level interventions that address contextual factors influencing obesity risk. These include nutrition-related policy, systems, and environmental interventions such as farmers’ markets, healthy food retail initiatives, healthy eating in childcare policies, and farm-to-school programming. Consensus modeling methods resulted in the development of four diagnostic tools that include hierarchical scoring to tailor implementation recommendations to local need. We will discuss methods for developing and disseminating the diagnostic tools to reach public health and community nutrition practitioners throughout Ohio.

Bio: 

Dr. Freedman is Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Social Work at Case Western Reserve University and Associate Director of the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods. Dr. Freedman’s applied research examines the influence of community food environments on health and wellbeing with an emphasis on strategies to promote health equity. Her work is situated within a broader approach to health promotion and disease prevention research that values meaningful engagement of communities in the process of knowledge production and dissemination. Dr. Freedman currently leads four federally-funded studies focused on the intersection of food access and health outcomes. Dr. Freedman is currently Co-Chair of the Hunger Safety Net Research Working Group of the CDC-funded Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network.

Slide Presentation:   HSR_02_24_2017_Slides