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

Abstract

Background Childhood obesity is a systemic and complex multilevel public health problem. Research approaches are needed that effectively engage communities in reversing environmental determinants of child obesity. Objectives This article discusses the Communities and Schools Together Project (CAST) and lessons learned about the project’s community-based participatory research (CBPR) model. Methods A partnership of schools, community organizations, and researchers used multiple methods to examine environmental health risks for childhood obesity and conduct school–community health programs. Action work groups structured partner involvement for designing and implementing study phases. Lessons Learned CBPR in child obesity prevention involves engaging multiple communities with overlapping yet divergent goals. Schools are naturally situated to participate in child obesity projects, but engagement of key personnel is essential for functional partnerships. Complex societal problems require CBPR approaches that can align diverse communities and necessitate significant coordination by researchers. CBPR can provide simultaneous health promotion across multiple communities in childhood obesity prevention initiatives. Support for emergent partner activities is an essential practice for maintaining community interest and involvement in multi-year CBPR projects. Conclusion Investigator-initiated CBPR partnerships can effectively organize and facilitate large health-promoting partnerships involving multiple, diverse stakeholder communities. Lessons learned from CAST illustrate the synergy that can propel projects that are holistically linked to the agents of a community.

Evaluation of complex community‐based childhood obesity prevention interventions

“…Figure describes the search results – 33 interventions were entered into the data corpus as meeting all inclusion criteria. Each intervention took place across multiple community settings and focused on systems change to promote healthy behaviours at the individual level applying a range of study designs . The interventions were participatory in nature, with a foundational component built on community engagement, empowerment and capacity building.…”

“…Schools were the primary setting for data collection in 29 of 33 interventions , and barriers around recruiting, engaging and following up with schools were frequently reported . Logistically, working around school timetables and vacation periods proved challenging , and one intervention noted that several visits to schools were often necessary to re‐measure all participants in the follow‐up period .…”

Prevalence and Prediction of Overweight and Obesity Among Elementary School Students

“…This study presents initial BMI measures of 2317 elementary school students recruited to the Communities and Schools Together for Childhood Obesity Prevention project (CAST), a 5‐year community‐based participatory research study examining the environmental and social influences on the prevalence of child overweight and obesity in a suburban Oregon school district (project Web site—http://castpublic.ori.org). This district, the third largest in the county, encompasses 31.7 square miles and borders a large metro community and an agricultural‐rural section of the county. The district has 1 regular high school, 1 alternative high school, 2 middle schools, 2 K‐8 schools, and 5 elementary (K‐5) schools.…”

Exploring Categorical Body Mass Index Trajectories in Elementary School Children

“…CAST was a federally funded 5-year communitybased participatory research study that examined the environmental and social influences on the prevalence of child overweight and obesity in a suburban Oregon school district. [28][29][30] In the first year of the CAST project, during fall of the 2008-2009 school year, all families of children in grades K-5 who attended any of 7 district elementary schools were sent a description of the CAST project by mail. Included with the description was a passive decline or ''opt out'' card.…”