Creating Safe Active Family Environments through Public Policy: Addressing Obesity Amongst Pacific Islander Organizations in Southern California

The Pacific Islander Obesity Community Action Group, through the Asian & Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance, uses various methods to address obesity prevention amongst Pacific Islanders in Southern California. Although, there has been minimal research regarding Pacific Islanders and obesity, anecdotal evidence indicates that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer are the top three health disparities among these groups, indicating that obesity prevention is a much needed service. Building on the fundamental Pacific Islander cultural values of family, faith, and respect, this program is working to bring together Micronesians, Melanesians, and Polynesians to address obesity prevention through policy change at local, city, and state government levels. The policy change in particular is aimed towards the design and/or maintenance of recreational parks and possible open/free space. Use of lighting, walkways, space, facilities, and staff with the presence of sexual predators, gang violence, and drug trafficking ultimately affect the way in which these areas are used. Policy changes that will be brought forward would revolutionize the outlook of these areas, resulting in greater opportunities and services to address obesity prevention. This presentation will focus on the results to date of the program, and will highlight the ways in which the group bridges other communities, organizations, city/county/state officials, lawmakers, and leaders. The preliminary results include needs assessments of several parks in the Los Angeles County scope surrounding heavily populated Pacific Islander communities. The implications of the program will be discussed on Pacific Islander community collaborations focusing on obesity prevention.