2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

331985
Good, bad, and ugly: The influence of media on healthy weight among ethnically diverse youth and parents


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Chandria D. Jones, PhD, MPH, Westat, Rockville, MD
Sharon Desmond, PhD, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD
Debra Rog, PhD, Westat, Inc, Rockville, MD
Nanmathi Manian, PhD, Westat, Rockville, MD
Many public awareness campaigns and social marketing efforts have tried to curb the obesity epidemic by promoting increased physical activity and consumption of healthy foods. Of those communication efforts designed specifically for minority populations, strategies and messages have not sustained behavior change over time, possibly due to media and messages not resonating with the reality of African American, Hispanic and Latino, and American Indian youth and parents’ lives. Using data collected from 14 focus groups with African American, Hispanic and Latino, and American Indian youth and parents, this study examined how media, such as television, movies, texting, social media, the internet, or radio influences behaviors related to healthy weight for African American, Hispanic and Latino, and American Indian youth and parents. Results from the qualitative data analysis revealed that the influence of media on healthy weight was discussed in terms of positive associations with media through information and encouragement, negative relationships between media and unhealthy behaviors, and the influence of marketing in the media through messaging and promotion. By better understanding how media influences behaviors related to healthy weight in these populations, communication strategies can be developed that are more likely to result in long-term, positive behavioral change.

Learning Areas:

Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify cultural differences and similarities among African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian youth in regards to media use and behaviors related to healthy weight Describe how media influences behaviors related to healthy weight among ethnically diverse youth Discuss how health communication strategies can be modified to be more effective in promoting healthy weight related behaviors among ethnically diverse youth

Keyword(s): Obesity, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Senior Study Director at Westat with over 10 years of experience in public health focusing on behavioral health, childhood obesity, health disparities, and evidence-based practices. My research is concerned with social and environmental factors associated with obesity in children and adults, particularly among low-income minority populations. In previous work, I developed tools and products that use innovative communication and dissemination strategies to convey public health messages through digital and social media.
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.

Back to: 4283.0: Tune In, Turn On, Get Healthy? Media, Communication and Health (organized by HCWG)