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Community Perspectives on Obesity Prevention in Children Workshop Summaries (2009) / Chapter Skim
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2 Perspectives of Evaluators
Pages 5-10

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From page 5...
... ADDRESS THE NEED FOR COMMON MEASuRES A number of the evaluators expressed frustration at the lack of an accepted methodology and common measures for evaluating the complex program and policy changes involved in childhood obesity prevention. According to several evaluators, a set of common measures would facilitate the evaluation process, allow communities to learn from each other, and 
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From page 6...
... This multifactorial nature of obesity necessitates multiple interventions within a community, which in turn may require multiple evaluation approaches. A further challenge to the development and use of common measures arises in multisite studies, where the comparisons across sites made possible by such measures may be divisive, creating an atmosphere of competition rather than collaboration.
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From page 7...
... It is also important to capture some of the intermediate steps along the way, as well as such accomplishments as increased support for certain initiatives, engagement of key stakeholders, and other advocacy/coalition-building achievements. IDENTIFy OR DEvELOP RELEvANT RESEARCH MODELS A number of participants raised questions about how obesity prevention programs are assessed in the scientific community, particularly when use of the traditional randomized controlled trial (RCT)
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From page 8...
... DEvELOP SOLuTIONS TO THE DATA buRDEN ASSOCIATED WITH MuLTIFACTORIAL ObESITy PREvENTION MEASuREMENTS Another issue related to data collection involves the above-noted multifactorial nature of childhood obesity prevention programs, which can necessitate multiple evaluations. This need to examine a range of variables, together with the push to have measurable outcomes or compare favorably with RCT standards, adds to the evaluation burden on community members.
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From page 9...
... Instead, participants reported that they rely more heavily on "gray literature" or unpublished studies to inform their work in community-based settings. In discussing publication bias, several evaluators expressed their belief that in selecting articles on childhood obesity interventions, journals favor programmatic interventions over sustainable environmental changes, which are more difficult to specify.
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Key Terms

  • common measures
  • prevention programs
  • childhood obesity
  • community environment
  • research models

  • prevention measurements
  • prevention strategies
  • evaluators expressed
  • relevant research
  • data burden

  • develop relevant
  • multiple interventions
  • site leaders
  • develop solutions
  • burden associated

  • multifactorial obesity
  • individual obesity
  • obesity interventions
  • obesity necessitates
  • using common

  • prevention policies
  • multiple evaluation
  • prevention involves
  • evaluators suggested
  • improve opportunities

  • healthful foods
  • favor programmatic
  • fewer gains
  • eating behaviors
  • factors involved


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