The Evaluation of Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Conceptualization, Design, and Special Challenges

Bibliographic Data

ID11054976
AuthorsMartha M Phillips (Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 820 72205 Little Rock AR USA, corresponding author), James M Raczynski (Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 820 72205 Little Rock AR USA), Delia Smith West (0000-0002-4375-2785, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences), Leavonne Pulley (Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 820 72205 Little Rock AR USA), Zoran Bursac (0000-0001-9306-0907, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 820 72205 Little Rock AR USA), Laura C Leviton (0000-0001-8116-539X, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Princeton NJ USA)
Year2013
Volume51
Issue1-2
Pages289-298
Publication date2013-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-0562 • E-ISSN: 1573-2770
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1007/s10464-012-9538-2
PMID22739790
OpenAlexW2030800178
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited9

This article describes the evaluation of the Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003, a comprehensive legislative proposal to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity through changes in the school environment. In addition, the article discusses specific components of the evaluation that may be applicable to other childhood obesity policy evaluation efforts. The conceptual framework for the evaluation, research questions, and evaluation design are described, along with data collection methods and analysis strategies. A mixed methods approach, including both quantitative (surveys, telephone interviews) and qualitative (key informant interviews, records reviews) approaches, was utilized to collect data from a range of informant groups including parents, adolescents, school principals, school district superintendents, and other stakeholders. Challenges encountered with the evaluation are discussed, as are strategies to overcome those challenges. Now in its 9th year, this evaluation has documented substantial changes to school policies and environments but fewer changes to student and family behaviors. The evaluation may inform the methods of other evaluations of childhood obesity prevention policies, as well as inform policymakers about how quickly they might expect implementation of such policies in their own states and localities and anticipate both positive and adverse outcomes

Childhood obesity · Conceptualization · Data collection · Legislature · Medical education · Obesity · Political science · Program evaluation · Public health · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Early Childhood Education and Development · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Public Administration

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