Communities Leading Change: Using Implementation Science to Improve Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Racially...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities Research
• Community-Based Interventions

Background:

• Kansas City faces significant economic and racial segregation, leading to health inequities.
• Black and Latino communities experience drastically reduced life expectancy (up to 18 years) compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• Historical disinvestment created environments with limited physical activity access and healthy food options, increasing chronic disease burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reduce chronic disease health disparities among Black and Latino families in Kansas City.
• To increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and boost participation in family healthy weight programs.
• To implement and research the "Communities Leading Change" (CDC-funded) initiative.

Main Methods:

• Implementing policy, planning, and community design changes to enhance access to physical activity.
• Improving access to fruits and vegetables within targeted communities.
• Increasing support for evidence-based family healthy weight programs.

Main Results:

• The initiative focuses on short-term improvements in policy, systems, and environmental factors.
• Expected outcomes include increased physical activity and improved nutrition.
• The project aims to increase participation in family healthy weight programs.

Conclusions:

• This community-driven project utilizes partnerships to address health disparities.
• Findings may inform future practices, policies, and research on creating sustainable, community-led health initiatives.
• The "Communities Leading Change" initiative serves as a model for long-term, funded, collaborative public health interventions.