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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carol M. Devine, PhD, RD¹, Mary Maley, BS², Barbour Warren, PhD², and Jeanne Darling, MS, RD³. (1) Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 377 MVR, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, 607 255 2633, cmd10@cornell.edu, (2) Cornell University Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors, Cornell University, C-3503 Clinical Programs Ctr, Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research, Ithaca, NY 14853, (3) Delaware County Cooperative Extension Association, Cornell Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 184, 34570 St. Hwy. 10, Suite 2, Hamden, NY 13782

Obesity prevention is a priority for reducing breast cancer risk because the relative risk associated with obesity is high, and obesity is a modifiable factor that affects many women. The project objective was to increase the capacity of community leaders to take an environmental approach to obesity prevention and breast cancer risk reduction. Empowerment concepts and environmental diagnosis models guided design. The project site was a northeast rural community where 60% of adults were overweight or obese, and buy-in was available from Cooperative Extension, a cancer coalition, and community leaders. Community leaders used the results of a community environmental needs assessment to identify opportunities to increase healthy eating and active living: specifically walking groups and healthy options at community events. Goals were set to increase walking steps by 2000 over baseline at least 3 days per week, and to add at least one new healthy option to targeted community events. Participation at baseline was about 50% of adult females in the project community. Attitudes and beliefs about obesity prevention, healthy eating, physical activity and community capacity were assessed at baseline and following a three month intervention period. Walking steps measured by pedometer, and provision and consumption of healthy options at community events were assessed weekly. Changes in walking steps, provision of health options at community events, and community attitudes about capacity to address obesity as a community will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Session participants will be able to describe a model for using a community environmental approach to obesity prevention, tools and processes for implementation of this model and results of a community pilot project.

Keywords: Nutrition, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered