The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72273

Gail M. Woodward-Lopez, MPH, RD¹, Lorrene Ritchie, PhD, RD¹, Dana Gerstein, MPH, RD², and Patricia B Crawford, DrPH, RD³. (1) Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, 3 Giannini Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3100, 510-642-1599, gwlopez@nature.berkeley.edu, (2) CNR - Center for Weight & Health, University of California Berkeley, 3 Giannini Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3100, (3) Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Morgan Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104

The prevention of obesity has become a national priority. Private and public agencies at local, state and federal levels are struggling to identify and implement effective obesity prevention strategies. Decisions are being made with limited scientific basis. Recognizing the need to more clearly define which behaviors (dietary, physical activity and others) are most likely to impact obesity rates, the Centers for Disease Control, convened an national obesity prevention network (OPN) that consists of 6 university-based prevention research centers and 12 state departments of health. A workgroup of the OPN was formed and charged with the task of identifying and exploring the scientific basis for the determinants of energy imbalance in order to help establish priorities for action. A systematic and comprehensive literature review was conducted. An innovative and systematic approach was developed for evaluating the relative promise of each determinant as a potential target for intervention. Secular trends, mechanisms of action, epidemiologic evidence, and prevention trials were all considered. Although the literature review also included physical activity, sedentary behaviors and psychosocial determinants, this presentation will focus on the dietary determinants which were examined, including macronutrients, micronutrients, specific foods and beverages, meal, snack and dietary patterns. In addition to covering the purpose, methodology and results of the literature review, we will describe how this information can be used as the first step in a process to gain consensus, mobilize support and coordinate efforts within and between communities.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session the participants will be able to:
• 1.describe a simple process by which the scientific literature can be analyzed in order to prioritize intervention targets.
• 2.prioritize dietary factors acccording to their promise as targets for obesity prevention
• 3.describe a process by which scientific information can be used as the first step in a process to gain community consensus and coordination for actions to address obesity.

Keywords: Nutrition, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.