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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathleen Sellers, PhD, RN¹, Theresa Russo, PhD², Barbara A. Dennison, MD³, Claire T. Sellers, BA³, Ida Baker, MA³, Nancy Sherwood, PhD³, and Patrick Burdick, MA³. (1) School of Nursing and Health Systems, State University of New York Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 3050, Utica, NY 13504-3050, 518-231-5464, sellerk@sunyit.edu, (2) Department of Human Ecology, SUNY Oneonta, Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820, (3) Research Institute, Bassett Healthcare, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326

Young children have the right to live in a community environment that promotes health and fitness. A Rural Community Partnership to Promote Health and Fitness by Age 5 is a population based, multi-pronged intervention (funded by NIH, NIDDK (R) 01-DK-063450) with a primary aim to decrease obesity among young preschool-age children in the intervention vs. control community. Using a cross-sectional design, and guided by Bronfenbrenner's (1986) Ecological Theory and Roger's Diffusion of Innovation, the focus was to: (1) increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and low fat milk by substituting these foods for less nutritious foods, (2) increase physical activity, and (3) decrease television and video watching, thereby lowering the BMI of preschoolers. Four community partners were targeted within the intervention community as part of this effort to make lifestyle changes in the environment where young children dwell; early childhood educators, the healthcare community, the business community, and parents.

At the conclusion of the project: (1) Focus groups revealed that early childhood educators recognized that their current role includes controlling and influencing the environment thus developing healthy habits in young preschool-age children. (2) Nurses and providers in the intervention vs. control participating healthcare practices significantly increased BMI screening (p<0.001) and counseling of parents of overweight vs. non-overweight children regarding diet/nutrition (p=0.02) and activity (p=0.05). (4) Trends towards significance were found in lowering the BMI of young preschool-age children in the intervention over control community.

This community based intervention created awareness of successful strategies required to stem the epidemic of childhood obesity.

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

1.Identify 4 factors that contribute to early childhood obesity.
• Recognize the role that the community plays in reducing childhood obesity.
• Discuss successful community-based strategies required to stem the obesity epidemic in young preschool-age children.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation