As the public health threat of childhood obesity has become clear, the issue has become the focus of local, state, and national initiatives. Many of these efforts are centered on the community environment in recognition of the role of environmental factors in individual behaviors related to food and physical activity. In many communities, for example, fresh produce is not available or affordable, streets and parks are not amenable to exercise, and policies and economic choices make fast food cheaper and more convenient than healthier alternatives.

Community efforts to combat obesity vary in scope and scale; overall, however, they remain fragmented, and little is known about their effectiveness. At the local level, communities are struggling to determine which obesity prevention programs to initiate and how to evaluate their impact.

In this context, the Institute of Medicine held two workshops to inform current work on obesity prevention in children through input from individuals who are actively engaged in community- and policy-based obesity prevention programs. Community perspectives were elicited on the challenges involved in undertaking policy and programmatic interventions aimed at preventing childhood obesity, and on approaches to program implementation and evaluation that have shown promise. Highlights of the workshop presentations and discussions are presented in this volume.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON OBESITY PREVENTION
• Reviewers
• Reviewers
• Preface
• SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP 1: June 2008
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Perspectives of Evaluators
    • ADDRESS THE NEED FOR COMMON MEASURES
    • SUSTAIN LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS BY FOUNDATIONS AND POLICY MAKERS
    • IDENTIFY OR DEVELOP RELEVANT RESEARCH MODELS
    • EASE THE BURDEN THAT IS OFTEN IMPOSED BY EVALUATION
    • DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO THE DATA BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIFACTORIAL OBESITY PREVENTION MEASUREMENTS
    • IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLISHING AND DISSEMINATING EVALUATION RESULTS
  • 3. Perspectives of Site Leaders
    • IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
    • LENGTHEN EVALUATION PERIODS
    • ENHANCE EVALUATION METHODS TO CAPTURE PROGRESS AS WELL AS LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
    • DEVELOP LOCAL DATA AND AN ACCESSIBLE DATABASE
  • References
• SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP 2: May 2009
  • Summary
    • LESSONS FROM COMMUNITIES
    • LESSONS FROM RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
    • LESSONS FROM POLICY MAKERS
    • OVERALL THEMES
  • 4. Introduction
    • WORKSHOP THEMES
    • COMMUNITY VOICES AND EVIDENCE
    • REPORT ORGANIZATION
  • 5. Community-Based Programs: How Does Information Help Them Achieve Their Goals?
    • PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION IN DENSELY POPULATED SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
    • DEVELOPING A CITYWIDE BLUEPRINT FOR HEALTH IN BALTIMORE
    • COLLABORATING ON A REGIONAL LEVEL IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
    • FOCUSING ON AN UNDERSERVED WARD IN WASHINGTON, DC
    • Using Information to Promote Program Goals
    • DISCUSSION
  • 6. Research and Advocacy Groups: How Does Evidence Inform Policy?
    • UNDERSTANDING CHALLENGES TO ADVOCACY FOR OBESITY PREVENTION
    • ESTABLISHING THE BURDEN OF EVIDENCE
    • CONNECTING RESEARCH AND ACTION
    • ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF OBESITY PREVENTION
    • DISCUSSION
  • 7. Decision Makers: How Do Community Perspectives Influence Policy?
    • SUPPORT FOR RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE IN FAIRFAX CITY, VIRGINIA
    • RIGOR OF EVIDENCE IN NEW YORK FOOD POLICY
    • “CULTURE OF FITNESS” IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
    • EFFORTS TO SPEAK OUT ON OBESITY PREVENTION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND
    • EVIDENCE IN MINNESOTA HEALTH POLICY DECISIONS
    • REFRAMING OF THE CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON, DC
    • DISCUSSION
  • 8. Closing Remarks
    • DIVERSITY OF EFFORTS
    • A MOVEMENT VERSUS DISCRETE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
    • COMMUNICATION IS KEY
    • CORE DATA
    • COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE
  • References
• Appendix A Workshop Agendas
• Appendix B Biographical Sketches
• Appendix C Workshop Attendees

Rapporteurs: Paula Tarnapol Whitacre, Annina Catherine Burns, Cathy Liverman and Lynn Parker.

This study was supported by Contract No. OPVT-8390 between the National Academy of Sciences and The California Endowment. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

Suggested citation:

IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2009. Community Perspectives on Obesity Prevention in Children: Workshop Summaries. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.