Oral

As the epidemic of obesity continues, it is critical to identify potential areas for intervention or best ways to target particular populations. Emerging research findings provide clues to unraveling which approaches are most effective, which populations are particularly at risk for chronic conditions associated with obesity and what messages are important to include in campaigns and initiatives. Additionally, which factors are conditional to circumstances or environments that impact healthy behaviors need to be considered. Session presenters discuss the use of the NEMS (Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey) for collecting food environment and household level data, misconstrued parent perceptions of child weight status and risks of obesity, which groups are particularly vulnerable to increased weight upon entry into the food stamp program and how socio-environmental factors may mediate known relationships between socio-economics and obesity for African-Americans.

Session Objectives: 1)Describe tools or methods used to study food environments, perceptions or effects of food assistance programs in relation to obesity 2)Explain ways to potentially target populations, environments or psycho-social factors to address obesity

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)