Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Does Actual Overweight Or Perception Of Overweight Elevate Suicide Risk In Bullied Vs. Non-Bullied Students?, Ashley Kalle, Yunmi Chungs, Wonksuk Yoo

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: For individuals in Georgia aged 10-14 and 15-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Those who are overweight are often bullied by their peers, and being bullying can lead to higher risks of suicidality. There is, however, mixed evidence about the relationship between high weight and suicide. Weight perception may be a stronger predictor of suicide than actual weight. The aim of the present study was to examine, in a national sample of high school students, the interaction between weight and bullying on suicide outcomes.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed with data from the 2015 …

The Effect Of A Nutrition Intervention On Parents Living In A Rural Georgia Community, Regina Elliott-Walker, Dawn M. Hayes, Emeka Oraka, Rashunda Lewis, Andre Leon

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Childhood obesity is a concern for public health organizations. Nearly one in four children living in rural communities are obese, and children living in rural Georgia communities are no exception. For rural communities, prevention efforts are needed to address challenges to reducing childhood obesity. The objective of the present effort was to increase the knowledge of parents in a rural community of the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption and other healthy options.

Methods: The “We Can Energize Families” curriculum, developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was implemented in a rural Georgia community. Pender’s Health Promotion …

Using The Exercise Is Medicine® On Campus Platform To Assess College Students’ Practice Of Physical Activity In A Rural Setting, Bridget Melton, Jazmin A. Williamson, Helen Bland, Jian Zhang

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The college setting offers public health educators and exercise scientists a favorable environment to implement wide-spread change in levels of physical activities. With over two-thirds of all adults in the U.S. now categorized as obese or overweight (CDC, 2015), it has become necessary to increase physical activity levels on college campuses. Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM®-OC) is a national initiative to increase physical activity on college campuses by creating an environment to change the subjective norm of diminished exercise movement and fitness among adults. The purpose of the present study was to use the EIM®-OC platform to assess …

Growing Fit: Georgia’S Model For Engaging Early Care Environments In Preventing Childhood Obesity, Kelsey Mcdavid, Catalina Piedrahita, Emily A. Vall, Christi Kay, Jean O’Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In the United States, one in three children is overweight or obese by their fifth birthday. In Georgia, 35 percent of children are overweight or obese. Contrary to popular belief, children who are overweight or obese are unlikely to outgrow their weight status as adults, making early childhood an essential time to address weight status. An estimated 380,000 Georgia children attend early care and education environments, such as licensed child care centers, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten programs, which provide an opportunity to reach large numbers of children, including those at risk for obesity and overweight.

Methods: To address this …

The Association Between Obesity, Depression, And Anxiety: Evidence From A Community Health Needs Assessment Survey, Grace B. Adams, Angela Murcia

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The obesity epidemic has garnered much attention as a public health crisis. In order to make progress, it is necessary to understand the factors associated with obesity. One area of research needing more development is the link between obesity and other chronic health conditions. The objective of the present study was to further understand the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Athens-Clarke County in northeast Georgia.

Methods: Data from the 2015 Athens-Clarke County Community Health Needs Assessment (n=1234) were used to assess the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among …

Adapting A Physical Activity Intervention For Youth In A Rural Area: A Case Study, Moya L. Alfonso, Gavin Golquitt, Ashley Walker, Akrati Gupta

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Physical activity offers children and youth many well-documented positive effects on health. The present study adapted a community-based prevention marketing campaign (CBPM), VERBTM Summer Scorecard (VSS) to promote physical activity among minority youth in rural, southeast Georgia. The purpose of this paper is to describe the adaptation process, emphasizing methods used and lessons learned.

Methods: A qualitative study design was used to identify social marketing concepts that informed program adaptation, including two focus groups with 12 children and two focus groups with 14 parents. Qualitative thematic data analysis was used to analyze formative research. The adapted program was implemented …

The Need For Culturally-Tailored Smartphone Applications For Weight Control, Stephen S. Coughlin, Dale Hardy, Lee S. Caplan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Approximately 35% of U.S. adults are obese, and this rate is expected to increase by almost 50% by 2030. New media such as smartphone applications (apps) provide a useful and low-cost way to disseminate weight control information. For many culturally distinctive population subgroups, however, there is currently an absence of research-tested smartphone apps for weight control.

Methods: In this commentary, we highlight the need for culturally tailored smartphone apps for weight control and offer recommendations for further research by providing two specific examples: 1) the characteristic dietary patterns and absence of smartphone apps for weight loss for Hispanic Americans, …

Weight Status And Satisfaction With Healthcare Received In The U.S. And Georgia, Saswat Panda, Koichiro Otani, Janani R. Thapa

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, and, in Georgia, adult obesity rates are among the highest. Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer, and adherence to treatment of such disease conditions is affected by patients’ perception of healthcare received. The present study examined the association between weight status and satisfaction with healthcare received in the U.S. and in Georgia.

Methods: The association between weight status and satisfaction with healthcare received in the U.S. and Georgia was examined using multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for demographic and other healthcare-related …

Gender Disparities In Weight Gain Among Offenders Who Are Obese Upon Entering Correctional Facilities, Madison L. Gates, Nancy C. Webb, Rebecca Stone, Darra Ballance, Wonsuk Yoo

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Obesity is a significant health issue for offenders, who have a higher prevalence of obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, compared to non-incarcerated populations. Within incarcerated populations, there are obesity disparities in terms of race, gender, and age, as well as excess weight gain during incarceration.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted for 2005 – 2010 in collaboration with a Department of Corrections in the east south central region of the United States. From electronic health records of 10,841 offenders, weight, height, and demographic data were extracted. As determined from these data, 2,622 offenders met the inclusion criteria (two or …

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Prevention Program For Rural Citizens, Barbara B. Kawulich, Diana Mindrila, Gina Brandenburg

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Georgia has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the US. Obesity and inactivity contribute to the onset of this disease. Tanner Health System addressed the obesity epidemic in three rural counties of Georgia through a 16-week diabetes prevention program (DPP) for 176 residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the DPP.

Methods: The multiple methods design of this project used pre- and post-surveys from January/February, 2014, classes to determine diabetes-related lifestyle factors, 11 mid-point telephone interviews, and focus groups with 17 members to identify lifestyle changes that were implemented. Additionally, initial and final measurements of body mass …

A Quantile Regression Approach To Measuring The Educational Effect On Body Mass Index, Dakshina G. De Silva, Bradley T. Ewing, Catherine P. Slade, Mark A. Thompson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: By use of a publically available database, the effects of education and geography on obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) were evaluated with a quantile regression approach. The focus of the analysis was on the practical interpretation of the regression results to inform health policy decision makers about the importance of educational attainment for the growing public health issue of obesity in the US, particularly in the Southeast.

Methods: With data from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), quantile regressions were employed to estimate the educational effect on BMI while controlling for relevant lifestyle, socioeconomic, …

Winning The Obesity Battle, Daniel S. Blumenthal

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Winning the Obesity Battle