Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105854

Jana J. Peterson, MPH, Dept. of Community & Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, 1215 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52242, 319-335-8332, jana-peterson@uiowa.edu, John B. Lowe, MPH, DrPH, FAHPA, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, The University of Iowa, E225A General Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, and N. Andrew Peterson, PhD, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa - College of Public Health, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242.

A number of studies have demonstrated links between health literacy and both disease-related knowledge and general health status. However, few studies have demonstrated a relationship between health literacy and status of specific disease states. No studies have been reported in the literature to link levels of health and health-related behaviors such as smoking, physical activity, and nutrition. A literature review revealed no empirical studies demonstrating a relationship between health literacy and either obesity or weight-related health behaviors such as caloric consumption or physical activity. Although the literature review did demonstrate a relationship between health literacy and depression, authors have concluded that this relationship is not significant after controlling for other variables. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between health literacy and obesity and depression, two common health outcomes for which the relevance of health literacy has been assumed. The study participants were a randomly selected sample of rural residents (n=407) from the Midwestern U.S. The independent variable in present investigation was health literacy, measured with the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). The dependent variables were obesity, determined via anthropometric measurement of body mass index, and depression, measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results demonstrated significant relationships between health literacy, obesity, and depression. The impact of these results will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, a participant will be able to

• Discuss the paucity of available data relating health literacy to specific health outcomes.
• Understand the hypothesized relationship between health literacy, health behaviors, and health outcomes.
• Describe the relationship between health literacy and two health outcomes
  obesity and depression.

  Keywords: Health Literacy, Outcomes Research

  Presenting author's disclosure statement:
  

  I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

  Health Communication about Chronic Disease and Evidence-based Medicine

  The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA