263411 Childhood obesity and the built environment: The role of health impact assessment

Monday, October 29, 2012

Brenda Buescher, MPH , Freelance writer & editor, Lancaster, PA
Laura Harker , Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Katey Mote , Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Issues: In Moore County, North Carolina, 20 percent of children in grades K-9 are obese. An additional 16 percent are overweight. Overweight children face a variety of physical and psychological health problems throughout the lifespan. Improving the built environment, including the pedestrian infrastructure, is one promising strategy to increase children's physical activity. Description: Our team of students from UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health partnered with FirstHealth of the Carolinas and the Town of Aberdeen to conduct a health impact assessment (HIA) on the proposed Aberdeen Pedestrian Transportation Plan (APTP). The HIA examined the potential impact of the APTP on physical activity and obesity among Aberdeen children. Our data sources included quantitative health behavior data from community health assessments, photovoice and survey data from children at Aberdeen Elementary School, spatial data (maps) from the local government. In addition, we conducted a literature review, consulted with experts, and conducted a windshield tour to gather observational data. Lessons Learned: Aberdeen children currently face barriers to walking in town: lack of sidewalks, lack of street crossings, parental perceptions of danger, prohibitive distances to destinations, and time constraints. The APTP addresses some of these barriers by adding sidewalks, calming traffic, and improving street crossings. Pedestrian education, safety enforcement, and a Safe Routes to School program could help maximize use of the new walkways. Recommendations: The HIA results will be disseminated to policymakers to inform implementation of the APTP. Aberdeen is planning a pedestrian education program and a new Safe Routes to School program.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify resources and tools to learn the process of conducting HIA 2. Apply the steps of HIA to pedestrian infrastructure projects and the health outcome of childhood obesity 3. List strategies for developing a mutually beneficial partnership between academic institutions and community organizations

Keywords: Child Health, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been trained in program planning, implementation, and evaluation as a master's student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I received training in the research methods (e.g. ArcGIS, qualitative research) used in this study.
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.