244389 Regional differences in physical activity and nutrition intake: Implications for obesity prevention policy interventions on improving built environment

Monday, October 31, 2011: 11:42 AM

Hongmei Wang, PhD , Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Liyan Xu, MD, MS , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, MPA , College of Public Health, Department of Health Services Research and Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Tao Li, MD , Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Melissa Tibbits, PhD , Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
     
Research increasingly recognizes the need to focus on environmental factors—including the built environment—that may help promote physical activity and healthy eating. High racial/ethnic residential segregation often exists within communities, which could result in regional differences in access to physical activity and healthy food options. In Douglas County, Nebraska most African Americans live in the Northeastern region, most Hispanics live in the Southeastern region, and most Whites live in the Western region. This study assessed adults' physical activity and nutrition intake attitudes, perceptions, and behavior before the initiation of the CDC's Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative to reduce obesity in the county. Data was collected by a telephone survey (N=1,495; response rate = 60%) Summer 2010. African Americans and Hispanics were oversampled and a weighted analysis was conducted to accommodate the complex survey sample design. We found that county residents generally had positive attitudes toward physical activity and healthy eating, but physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake were low. Compared to people in the Western region, fewer people from the Northeastern and Southeastern regions reported there were places to be physically active (p<.01) and to buy healthy foods (p<.01) near their homes, and more felt that policy changes to improve the built environment were important (p<.05). These results suggest that access to physical activity facilities and healthy food options were greater barriers in the minority regions of the county highlighting the importance of determining and addressing regional differences in built environments when designing obesity prevention policy initiatives.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Assess the attitudes, perceptions, and behavior on physical activity and nutrition intake among adults in a mid-size county. Analyze regional differences in physical activity and nutrition intake and the implications of built environment on obesity prevention policies.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversee programs such as evaluation of community health initiatives to promote physical activity and nutrition intake behaviors to reduce obesity.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Assessing the Role of the Built Environment on Health Behaviors, Obesity, & Chronic Disease
See more of: Community Health Planning and Policy Development