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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Melissa Zullo, MPH, MA, Monique Washington, RN, MS, Siran Koroukian, PhD, and Natalie Colabianchi, PhD. Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Wood Building WG-57, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106-4945, 216-368-1709, melissa.zullo@case.edu

Introduction: The obesity epidemic has initiated investigation into weight control at the community level. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and knowledge of recommendations, utilization of community resources, engaging in group level health promotion activities and perceived importance of healthy behaviors.

Methods: Cross sectional analysis (n=718), utilizing the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Cleveland Steps to a Healthier US. BMI was categorized normal, overweight and obese. Polytomous logistic regression identified significant predictors per BMI category.

Results: General health (OR 1.70, CI. 0.73, 3.95), knowledge of moderate exercise (OR 4.30, CI 1.98, 9.3), agreeing community resources exist for weight management (OR0.29, CI 0.11, 0.81) agreeing community resources exist for eating healthy (OR 2.8, CI 1.08, 7.27) and socioeconomic status (OR 2.25, CI 1.03, 4.95) were significant for overweight. General health (OR0.39, CI 0.18, 0.89), meeting vigorous activity recommendations (OR 0.43, CI 0.19, 0.99), consuming fewer calories (OR 6.28, CI 2.32, 17.01), knowledge of moderate exercise (OR 2.78, CI 1.35, 5.76), participating in health promotion activities (OR 1.45, CI 1.03, 2.06), and socioeconomic status (OR 3.44, CI 1.63, 7.26) were significant for obese. Availability and use of community resources for physical activity, nutrition, the importance of eating healthy and using farmers markets were not significant.

Conclusions: It appears that community level variables may have stronger influence on overweight than obese while health variables were more significant for obese. The distinctive predictors between groups have implications for those attempting to target the epidemic.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify individual and community level predictors of body mass index.
• Recognize the difference in predictors between categories of body mass index.
• Describe relationship between predictors and public health programming.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation