Objective: The present study examines the receptivity to and potential effects of menu labelling on food choices of low-income and minority individuals -a group often at disproportionate risk for preventable, lifestyle-related health conditions (e.g. obesity, diabetes and CVD). Design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes and potential response to menu labelling in an urban public health clinic population. Setting: United States. Subjects: A total of 639 clinic patients were recruited in the waiting rooms of six, large public health centres in Los Angeles County (2007County ( -2008. These centres provide services to a largely uninsured or under-insured, low-income, Latino and African-American population. Results: Among those approached and who met eligibility criteria, 88 % completed the survey. Of the 639 respondents, 55 % were overweight or obese based on selfreported heights and weights; 74 % reported visiting a fast food restaurant at least once in the past year, including 22 % at least once a week; 93 % thought that calorie information was 'important'; and 86 % thought that restaurants should be required to post calorie information on their menu boards. In multivariate analyses, respondents who were obese, female, Latino and supportive of calorie postings were more likely than others to report that they would choose food and beverages with lower calories as a result of menu labelling. Conclusions: These findings suggest that clinic patients are receptive to this population-based strategy and that they would be inclined to change their food selections in response to menu labelling.
Although US obesity prevention efforts have begun to implement a
variety of system and environmental change strategies to address
the underlying socioecological barriers to healthy eating, factors
which can impede or facilitate community acceptance of such
interventions are often poorly understood. This is due, in part,
to the paucity of subpopulation health data that are available to
help guide local planning and decision-making. We contribute to
this gap in practice by examining area-specific health data for a
population targeted by federally funded nutrition interventions in
Los Angeles County. Using data from a local health assessment that
collected information on sociodemographics, self-reported health
behaviors, and objectively measured height, weight, and blood
pressure for a subset of low-income adults (n
= 720), we compared health risks and predictors of healthy eating
across at-risk groups using multivariable modeling analyses. Our
main findings indicate being a woman and having high self-efficacy
in reading Nutrition Facts labels were strong predictors of
healthy eating (P < 0.05). These findings
suggest that intervening with women may help increase the reach of
these nutrition interventions, and that improving self-efficacy in
healthy eating through public education and/or by other means can
help prime at-risk groups to accept and take advantage of these
food environment changes.
Animal-to-human bites can often lead to medical complications. Surveillance is essential in helping to identify, manage, and reduce these highly preventable injuries and direct public health actions and policies on animal bite risk and prevention.
High satisfaction with flu outreach services in South Los Angeles suggests that this model for vaccine delivery could lead to meaningful client experience of care. Local health departments could capitalize on this model to improve preventive services delivery for the underserved.
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