Obesity Work Group /
Mohawk Valley Population Health Improvement Program
Reducing Obesity: A Review of the NYS Prevention Agenda’s Recommended Interventions /
3/10/2016

Table of Contents

Identify the Barriers Related to Obesity in the MV PHIP Region 3

Discuss the Obesity Work Group’s Priorities for the Region 3

Begin to Identify Population Based Interventions For the Mohawk Valley PHIP Region 3

Review of The Health Impact Pyramid4

Define: Population-based Public Health Practice4

Define: Population Health4

Examine NYSPrevention Agenda Focus Area 1: Reduce Obesity In Children and Adults In Relation To The Health Impact Pyramid5

This Will Include Programs Suggested By MV PHIP Members5

Review the County Health Rankings’ Action Center Guidelines For Building Healthy Communities8

Barriers related to obesity in our region:

1.

2.

3.

Priority populations: (e.g. preschool children, school-aged children, teens, adults, low-socioeconomic status, individuals with disabilities, etc.)

1.

2.

3.

Reflecting on your priority populations select 2 population based interventions for the region:

1.

2.

1

A 5-tier pyramid best describes the impact of different types of public health interventions and provides a framework to improve health. In ascending order are interventions that change the context to make individuals' default decisions healthy. Interventions focusing on lower levels of the pyramid tend to be more effective because they reach broader segments of society and require less individual effort (1).

Population-based public health practice:is a focus on entirepopulations that possess similar health concerns or characteristics. Public health interventions may be directed at entire populations within a community, the systems that affect the health of those populations, and/or the individuals and families within those populations. Population-based community-focused practice changes community norms, community attitudes, community awareness, community practices, and community behaviors. Population-based system-focused practice changesorganizations, policies, laws, and power structures (3).

Population health is defined as “an approach that focuses on interrelated conditions and factors that influence the health of populations over the life course, identifies systematic variations in their patterns of occurrence, and applies the resulting knowledge to develop and implement policies and actions to improve the health and well being of those populations (2).”

Levels of Health Impact Pyramid / NYS Prevention Agenda Interventions by Level of Health Impact Pyramid
Recommended Interventions for Local Action
Counseling and Education /
  • Breastfeeding: Ensure public and private health insurance coverage of, access to and incentives for breastfeeding education, lactation counseling and support.
  • Food Systems:
  • Integrate NuVal® Scores and healthy eating promotion into community education.
  • Support education opportunities for school food-service workers on nutrition and wellness.
  • Food SystemsActive Living: Use public service announcements to promote healthy eating, physical activity and breastfeeding.
  • Social media: Use social media to promote awareness of key obesity prevention strategies/practices, including a focus on populations affected by racial, ethnic, educational attainment and economic disparities.

Clinical Interventions:
(DSRIP focus area) /
  • Active Living: Offer information regarding availability of parks and trails with patients seeking free activities close to home; referrals to community resources.
  • Breastfeeding: Encourage and recruit pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists and other primary care provider practices and clinical offices to become NYS Breastfeeding Friendly Practices.
  • Health Insurance Coverage: Ensure public and private health insurance coverage of, access to and incentives for routine obesity prevention screening, diagnosis and treatment.
  • Increase the Capacity of Primary Care: to implement screening, prevention and treatment measures for obesity in children and adults through quality improvement and other training methods, plus reimbursement and payment incentives.

Long-Lasting Protective Interventions /
  • Food Systems and Active Living: Adequately invest in proven community-based programs that result in increased levels of physical activity and improved nutrition.
  • Health Insurance Coverage: Implement evidence-based wellness programs for all public and private employees, retirees and their dependents through collaboration with unions, health plans and community partnerships.
  • Infrastructure: Link health care-based efforts with community prevention activities
  • Connect schools and hospitals in rural areas to cross-promote obesity reduction activities.
  • Partner with regional economic development councils and State business associations for messaging on obesity prevention, including promoting access to healthy foods, breastfeeding and increasing opportunities for physical activity.

Changing the Context to Make Individuals' Decisions Healthy / Active Living:
  • Adopt, strengthen and implement local policies and guidelines that facilitate increased physical activity for residents of all ages and abilities.
  • Establish joint use agreements to open public areas and facilities for safe physical activity for all, including people with disabilities.
  • Support use of funds for trails, complete streets, safe routes to school, active transportation infrastructure and programs and other non-motorized transportation enhancements.
  • Increase the number of municipalities that have Complete Streets policies (Aging Friendly Community Design).
  • Promote mandatory active recess in schools.
Breastfeeding:
  • Adopt regulations and policies to implement standards supporting breastfeeding, quality nutrition, increased physical activity and reduced screen time in early childcare settings. Increase community support and reinforcement of these regulations and policies.
  • Strengthen NYS Labor Law and business practices that support breastfeeding at work.
  • Use the Business Case for Breastfeeding to encourage employers to implement breastfeeding-friendly policies: Making It Work Toolkit.
Food Systems:
  • Adopt policies and implement practices to increase access to affordable healthy foods for individuals living in group homes or adult homes for people with disabilities.
  • Adopt policies and implement practices to reduce overconsumption of sugary drinks.
  • Encourage warning labels detailing potential health risks be put on sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • Increase retail availability of affordable healthy foods that meet community needs, especially those with limited access to nutritious foods.
  • Increase the number of small food retailers selling healthy and affordable foods.
  • Define/Innovate business models that support increased use of healthy, locally grown/developed/minimally processed foods.
  • Increase the number of year round farmers markets.
  • Increase the number of institutions with nutrition standards for healthy food and beverageprocurement.
  • Encourage early childcare programs to enroll in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Eat Well Play Hard program (EWPH).
  • Increase the number of schools that establish strong nutritional standards for all foods and beverages sold and provided through schools (Policy in place: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010).
  • Encourage school districts to prohibit advertising and promotion of less nutritious foods and beverages, to adopt and implement standards for competitive foods, and to implement Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAP).
  • Advocate for nutrition education in high-needs area by local dietetics organizations. For example: assist participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in achieving healthier lifestyles and contribute to decreasing overweight and obesity.
Worksite Wellness:
  • Increase adoption of food procurement and vending policies based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans among public and private employers, including government agencies.
  • Increase the number of employers who offer benefits, coverage and/or incentives for obesity prevention and treatment.
  • Develop an economic benefits argument on implementing worksite wellness that is specific to New York State.
  • Implement nutrition and beverage standards in public institutions, worksites and other key locations such as hospitals.
  • Develop community partnerships to increase comprehensive worksite wellness programs among small- to medium-sized employers.

Socioeconomic Factors /
  • Develop and implement community-led, place-based interventions targeted to address the social determinants of health in high-priority vulnerable communities.
  • Reduce educational disparities by race, ethnicity, and income that underlie disparities in obesity risk factors, obesity, and obesity-related diseases.

  • Please refer to the Prevention Agenda Action Plan Re-Fresh Chart - Priority Area: Prevent Chronic Diseases; Focus Area 1: Reduce Obesity in Children and Adults – Resources for a listing of specific programs and toolkits.

County Health Rankings: Action Center

1