The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity High Obesity Program facilitated the establishment of community-based wellness coalitions in six South Dakota counties where the prevalence of adult obesity was greater than 40%. Rural, underserved communities were tasked by the community coalitions to enhance access to nutritious foods and safe, accessible venues for physical activity. Cooperative Extension staff, with existing connections in the community, initiated the process of coalition formation and member acquisition. In these coalitions, individuals were chosen for leadership roles, with the aim of guaranteeing the projects' successful implementation. Cooperative Extension staff dedicated their ongoing support and technical assistance to community coalitions, enabling them to accomplish a community needs assessment, communicate its results, establish action plans, execute evidence-based interventions aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity policies, systems, and environmental aspects, and finally measure the results within the community. The article's primary objective is to share the project methodology that has effectively used Cooperative Extension to cultivate the capacity for better nutrition and physical activity within rural and unserved communities. see more This work's sustainability, coupled with the lessons extracted from it, is also subject to discussion.
Rural American communities, especially those in the South, see a substantial decrease in the use of walking and cycling for both leisure and commuting. A deeper understanding of walking and cycling behaviors and attitudes among adults participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's High Obesity Program (HOP) in rural Hardeman County, TN, is the objective of this research. 634 adults provided valuable input on their walking and cycling habits, attitudes, and perceptions of the built environment through telephone interviews and online surveys. The 2002 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior is the source of the questions' formulation. The poll sorted the respondents into three types: walkers, cyclists, or those who practiced both modes of transportation. In order to analyze the data, chi-square and logistic regression models were employed. Of the adult population in this county, a staggering 672% were walkers and 162% were cyclists. Age, especially after reaching fifty, often correlates with a decrease in both kinds of active living. Walking was commonly found in conjunction with younger age brackets, two-person dwellings, a positive health assessment, and a subjective belief in walking's health benefits. Age was invariably coupled with cycling habits. Safety in their communities for walking and bicycling was a common and appreciated feature for most residents. The act of walking primarily occurred along roadways and the margins of those roadways. Intrinsic motivators and social support could potentially affect walking and bicycling choices in rural settings. To boost walking and cycling in rural environments, interventions need to establish systems of social support, construct routes that foster a sense of safety and enjoyment, and develop destinations that encourage physical activity.
The presence of community wellness coalitions is essential to the efficient operation of programs, particularly when they facilitate policy, systems, and environmental shifts supported by the technical expertise of a dedicated community champion or an Extension team. The implementation of PSE strategies is critical for supporting long-lasting behavior change, but it can present considerable difficulties. Extension, an established and prepared organization, can assist the community in addressing the various challenges they face. The aim of this article was to recognize and elucidate the experiences of Extension staff while working as community coaches.
To gauge the influence of Extension staff working with Community Champions, a mixed-methods strategy was undertaken. This involved the use of a quantitative Extension Coaching Confidence Scorecard and the conduction of Extension Key Informant Interviews.
Post-intervention, the Extension Coaching Confidence score experienced a significant elevation compared to the pre-intervention score, increasing from 551 ± 353 to 817 ± 377.
Analysis revealed a statistically significant, albeit modest, correlation of .03 between the variables. Five facilitators and two barriers to wellness coalition development were observed by Extension staff.
The community coaching model employed in this study demonstrated efficacy in tackling the foundational aspects, as defined within the Component Model of Infrastructure (CMI). Although essential, comprehensive training for CMI Extension staff and technical support are required to develop capabilities, attain objectives, and secure long-term viability.
Those desiring a career shift to PSE positions must be equipped with a comprehensive, specialized training program encompassing CMI and evidence-based technical support strategies. Recognizing the indispensable contribution of community champions is essential for PSE work, for practitioners. Information gained from the periodic completion of the Extension Coaching Confidence Scorecard can direct the evolution of necessary training.
Individuals aiming for a career in PSE work should receive comprehensive, focused training in CMI and evidence-based technical assistance methods. Recognizing the vital function of local champions is key for effective PSE work, and practitioners should do so. The Extension Coaching Confidence Scorecard, when completed regularly, offers insights into the evolving training needs.
Programs offering incentives for healthy foods, particularly within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and often held in farmers' markets, have presented promising outcomes in encouraging the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables. While program contexts, strategies, and participant characteristics vary significantly, the effectiveness of different implementation strategies in healthy food incentive programs remains unclear, with farmers market vendors' experiences largely unexplored. The experiences of farmers market vendors participating in the Northwest Arkansas Double Your Dollars (NWA DYD) healthy food incentive program, which sought to increase access to healthy foods for low-income Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese community members, were a key focus of this study. Vendors participating at the three biggest markets of NWA DYD on the last Saturday of October 2021 furnished the data that was gathered. Data, comprising quantitative, categorical, and open-ended information, was collected by program staff through the implementation of face-to-face surveys. A total of forty-one vendors submitted their survey responses. Vendors experienced positive outcomes with NWA DYD, including increased customer bases, and a substantial surge in participation by Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese shoppers due to its perceived usability and benefits. Vendors reported difficulties participating due to the paperwork requirements and the tardiness of reimbursement. The upcoming crop expansion was not attributed to NWA DYD by the vendors. NWA DYD's healthy food incentive program provides a case study for others designing and implementing comparable initiatives. Encouraging access to farmers' markets via incentivized, nutritious food programs is crucial for boosting fresh, healthy food consumption among low-income communities burdened by high rates of chronic diseases.
In the background, a scene unfolds. Physical activity initiatives are crucial interventions for preventing chronic diseases, minimizing the risk of cardiovascular ailments, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, and enhancing brain health. Previous approaches, which concentrated on physical fitness, were unsuccessful in addressing the requirements of the general population because they failed to incorporate movement into a daily routine. The incorporation of physical activity, even small amounts, like active transportation, can noticeably impact both the quality of life and the length of one's lifespan. This innovative approach is quite remarkable. In an effort to expand opportunities for active transportation, Utah agencies are working intersectorally to incorporate physical activity into everyday routines, a strategy to potentially combat this major public health issue. Human-powered travel is a key element of community design; supporting health and healthy behaviors is its essential function. Diasporic medical tourism To facilitate active transportation, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) developed collaborative relationships with key stakeholders. Derived lessons and recommended strategies. Public health, transportation, and planning agencies will be shown how to better collaborate, creating opportunities for everyone to participate in physical activity in this article. DHHS emphasizes the necessity of cooperative public health data sharing between state agencies, ensuring underrepresented communities are included in community feedback, and promoting joint projects that connect public health with transportation planning.
The tiny Pacific Island nations of American Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) sadly have some of the world's highest mortality rates from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). storage lipid biosynthesis Recognizing obesity as a significant risk factor for NCDs, the church leaders in American Samoa, Chuuk, and Kosrae promoted the implementation of a nutrition intervention. This was executed by instituting a water- and coconut-water-only policy for church events. Records were kept of water and coconut water intake. The quantity of water bottles, coconuts, and cups of water decreased considerably before and after 105 church events distributed across three jurisdictions. From an initial 1428 water bottles, the count dropped to 223. Likewise, the initial count of 196 coconuts fell to 12, and cups of water decreased from 529 to 76. In the Pacific, church-based promotion of healthy beverages is a promising, attainable, and culturally relevant approach to nutrition, considering the limited access to more diverse nutritious food sources, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.