A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach for Preventing Childhood Obesity: The Communities and Schools...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Childhood Obesity Research

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a complex, multi-level public health issue.
• Effective community engagement is crucial for addressing environmental factors contributing to childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the Communities and Schools Together (CAST) Project.
• To outline lessons learned from the project's community-based participatory research (CBPR) model.

Main Methods:

• A partnership involving schools, community organizations, and researchers.
• Utilized multiple methods to investigate environmental health risks for childhood obesity.
• Employed action work groups to structure partner involvement in study design and implementation.

Main Results:

• CBPR in child obesity prevention requires engaging diverse communities with varying goals.
• Schools are vital partners, but engagement of key personnel is essential for successful partnerships.
• Complex public health issues necessitate CBPR approaches that align diverse communities and require significant researcher coordination.

Conclusions:

• CBPR can facilitate simultaneous health promotion across multiple communities in childhood obesity prevention.
• Investigator-initiated CBPR partnerships can effectively organize large, health-promoting initiatives.
• Sustaining community interest and involvement in multiyear CBPR projects requires support for emergent partner activities.