D1.03 - Oral: How Do Populations with High Obesity Rates Change Health Outcomes?

Brief Abstract Summary: Understand how populations with low income, high poverty rates, and unfavorable health outcomes work together to maintain stability and advocate for change in communities with increased migration due to low opportunities for economic growth and health equity. Discover why small communities find it difficult to accept the methods of other communities with different cultures and infrastructures. Recognize the needs of the communities by listening to learn, speaking to clarify and understand, and taking action after the community has decided collectively what it deserves and how it can sustain what has been built.

Detailed abstract description: Attendees will hear from practitioners who build relationships in Mississippi counties with 40% or higher prevalence of obesity. This is due to low physical activity, limited access to healthy food, and low health equity. Attendees will hear the stories of residents who live on income less than 60% of the U.S. median household income, in areas where the local convenience store is the primary means for grocery shopping, where hospitals choose between serving healthy meals and keeping the doors open, in areas where residents drive hours to see a specialist, and where outsiders come in and tell communities what is wrong, but offer little or no solutions to tackle the problems that led to increased obesity. Attendees will learn about the Mississippi high obesity program entitled "AIM for CHangE" and the three targeted areas of focus: nutrition guidelines, physical activity, and family healthy weight. Attendees will hear about what AIM for CHangE has implemented in the counties of interest and failures and successes in the counties. Finally, attendees will learn how AIM for CHangE plans to thrive beyond the life of the AIM for CHangE program and three additional elements that the team feels are important to create sustainability.