BodyWorks adaptation for American Indian/Alaska Native adolescent girls and their families


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

3138.1: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 6

Abstract #108501

Kelly R. Moore, MD¹, Mary Lou Rife, PhD², Tammy Brown, MPH, RD, BC-ADM¹, Gale Marshall³, S. Lorraine Valdez, BSN-RN, MPA, CDE¹, and Kelly J. Acton, MD, MPH¹. (1) Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention, Indian Health Service, 5300 Homestead Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, (2) Rife Communications, 2948 Northhampton St., NW, Washington, DC 20015, 202-297-9066, marylou@rifecommunications.com, (3) Two Feathers Management, 142 Big Tree Lane, Canton, NC 28716

The childhood overweight epidemic and emerging burden of youth with type 2 diabetes among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) has challenged the Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP) to seek creative tools in working with youth and their caregivers. BodyWorks: A Toolkit for Healthy Girls and Strong Women has been developed by the Office on Women's Health (OWH), DHHS, to help prevent overweight and obesity in adolescent girls by using a family-based approach. This kit aims to help parents and caregivers of adolescent girls make changes to improve the family's eating and activity habits. The kit includes print materials, tools for planning meals, a video, and a pedometer. The IHS DDTP is tailoring these materials for AI/AN families to ensure that the messages, activities, and design will be culturally appropriate and motivating. Several critical activities have been undertaken to adapt the kit to an AI/AN specific audience: (1) a literature review and environmental scan related to diabetes and obesity prevention research and programs; (2) focus groups with AI/AN girls and parents and diabetes educators in AI/AN communities; (3) selection of Native illustrators, photographers, and video producers; (4) development of a training manual and “train the trainers” session that address motivation and behavior change in a culturally effective way, and (5) identification of a dissemination strategy that includes steps for the maintenance of healthy behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to

o Understand the importance of consumer research activities in the development of culturally appropriate materials for AI/AN families.
o Describe motivating health messages for an AI/AN audience from the toolkit to promote healthy weight through better nutrition and physical activity.
o Identify ways to modify/adapt existing health materials, including a video, to meet the needs of an AI/AN community, including messages, illustrations and photographs, and behavior change strategies.
o Recognize ways that a girls’ handbook can be produced for the AI/AN community that is culturally appropriate for girls 11-13 years of age.
o Describe a national distribution strategy that includes a train the trainer component to ensure participant motivation and sustained behavior change for a healthier life.

Keywords: American Indians, Adolescent Health

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.

Best Practices: American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians

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