Oral

Healthy Eating, Active Communities and The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program, funded by The California Endowment, and Healthy Eating Active Living, funded by Kaiser Permanente, were formed to reduce barriers to healthy food and physical activity opportunities in diverse, low-income communities with high obesity rates. This panel will discuss evaluation findings and lessons learned from the three programs. Speakers will address the overall contribution HEAC, HEAL and CCROPP are making to building statewide and national momentum around obesity prevention, reducing health disparities in low income communities, and building the evidence base for prevention strategies. The session will provide an overview and midpoint evaluation results. Speakers will discuss program and evaluation designs, midpoint findings, and lessons learned from each program. Specific evaluation findings will be presented on the impact on youth health behaviors and individual level outcomes. Featured speakers will also discuss the impact of the programs on policy and engagement of community residents, youth, and government and elected officials. Presentations will explore differences and similarities across programs, and address unique experiences in rural, inner-city urban, Hispanic, and Central Valley communities.

Session Objectives: Describe how environments shape nutrition and physical activity behaviors Discuss methods to evaluate environmental approaches to obesity prevention

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