Crooked Creek Community: An Analysis of Physical Activity and Weight

This study examined the relationship between cultural and socioeconomic subgroups of the Crooked Creek Community in relation to weight and physical activity. Crooked Creek is located in the northwest quadrant of Marion County, Indiana. The health assessment surveyed Crooked Creek resident's health in regards to weight and physical activity to determine whether race, income, gender, and age were related to previous participation in weight counseling and to previous level of physical activity. The results of the comparative study were used to provide recommendations for community specific interventions using an ecological model and an action research approach. This descriptive study was based on previously collected data from a community health assessment that was conducted during the fall of 2005. The ecological framework, which recognizes the biologic, physical, sociocultural, and politicoeconomic components of a person's environment as factors affecting deviation in a person's health, was utilized to guide this assessment. The questions focused on included demographics, rating of physical health, weight counseling, and physical activity. Analysis revealed that African Americans were most likely to have been counseled to lose weight (31.1%). Furthermore, this population was also least likely to exercise after being counseled to lose weight. This community health assessment allowed analysis of Crooked Creek residents' weight and physical activity within subgroups. This study provided necessary beginning information to develop appropriate health interventions specific to the needs of the population.