Examining Declines in Childhood Obesity in Four Communities: Highlights from Six Papers Published in Childhood Obesity

APR 30

The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) published six papers in Childhood Obesity highlighting findings from the Childhood Obesity Declines project. The supplement details the strategies and policies implemented in four diverse communities—Anchorage, AK; Granville County, NC; New York City, NY; and Philadelphia, PA—that experienced declines in childhood obesity prevalence from 2003 to 2011.

The supplement details the rationale, aims, and overall study design of a 2-year project that systematically studied and documented the community-based obesity strategies applied in four distinct communities across the nation. Findings suggest simultaneous public health messaging and multi-layered initiatives—including cross-sector partnerships and active, high-level champions—were likely important contributors to success in attaining declines in the prevalence of childhood obesity. To learn more about The Childhood Obesity Declines Project and to read the supplement, visit nccor.org/ /projects/obesity-declines.

On April 30, NCCOR is hosting a Connect & Explore webinar “Examining Declines in Childhood Obesity in Four Communities: Highlights from Six Papers Published in Childhood Obesity.” The webinar will examine the multi-level approaches, including policies, across all jurisdictions to improve the nutrition and physical activity environments through a socio-ecological lens. Speakers will discuss research and evaluation implications and provide guidance for future studies of community-based childhood obesity prevention.

Join us on Monday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m. ET, for the one-hour webinar. Guest speakers will include:

Tina Kauh, PhD, Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Nicola Dawkins-Lyn, PhD, Vice President for Public Health, ICF
Laura Kettel Khan, PhD,Senior Scientist and Advisor, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Deborah Young-Hyman, PhD, Health Scientist Administrator, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes of Health

Invite a colleague, and please consider sharing this information on your social networks using the hashtag #ConnectExplore. We will live tweet the event at @NCCOR. For those who cannot attend, the webinar will be recorded and archived on www.nccor.org.