INTRODUCTION: State-level policymakers play an important role in the fight against obesity because of their ability to create policies that influence opportunities for physical activity and nutrition. OBJECTIVE: In 2011, we investigated how Kansas policymakers regarded obesity, nutrition, and physical activity in comparison to other issues. DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional design. SETTING: This study was conducted in Kansas, a predominately rural and Republican Midwestern state. PARTICIPANTS: All 181 state-level policymakers in Kansas were mailed a cover letter and survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Policymakers were asked to identify and rate the importance of issues or problems in need of attention for Kansas. The 2011 state legislative report was content analyzed and coded to match the survey. Comparisons were made by political party. RESULTS: Of the 49 policymakers who completed a survey, 37 were Republicans and 43 were elected to their position. Although obesity-related issues were rated second highest after jobs, physical activity- and nutrition-related issues were not seen as important problems; moreover, little corresponding legislation was introduced. Other key issues identified by policymakers included budget/spending/taxes, education, jobs/economy, and drug abuse, with more legislation reflecting these problems. The Democrats ranked 11 issues as more significant problems than did the Republicans: quality of public education, poverty, access to health care, lack of affordable housing, ethics in government, lack of public health training, access to healthy groceries, lack of pedestrian walkways/crosswalks/sidewalks, pedestrian safety, air pollution, and global warming (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to provide more public health education on the relationship between nutrition and physical activity issues and obesity for Kansas policymakers. Issues identified may be similar for other predominately rural and Republican states.
INTRODUCTION: State-level policymakers play an important role in the fight against obesity because of their ability to create policies that influence opportunities for physical activity and nutrition. OBJECTIVE: In 2011, we investigated how Kansas policymakers regarded obesity, nutrition, and physical activity in comparison to other issues. DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional design. SETTING: This study was conducted in Kansas, a predominately rural and Republican Midwestern state. PARTICIPANTS: All 181 state-level policymakers in Kansas were mailed a cover letter and survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Policymakers were asked to identify and rate the importance of issues or problems in need of attention for Kansas. The 2011 state legislative report was content analyzed and coded to match the survey. Comparisons were made by political party. RESULTS: Of the 49 policymakers who completed a survey, 37 were Republicans and 43 were elected to their position. Although obesity-related issues were rated second highest after jobs, physical activity- and nutrition-related issues were not seen as important problems; moreover, little corresponding legislation was introduced. Other key issues identified by policymakers included budget/spending/taxes, education, jobs/economy, and drug abuse, with more legislation reflecting these problems. The Democrats ranked 11 issues as more significant problems than did the Republicans: quality of public education, poverty, access to health care, lack of affordable housing, ethics in government, lack of public health training, access to healthy groceries, lack of pedestrian walkways/crosswalks/sidewalks, pedestrian safety, air pollution, and global warming (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to provide more public health education on the relationship between nutrition and physical activity issues and obesity for Kansas policymakers. Issues identified may be similar for other predominately rural and Republican states.
Authors: Monica L Wang; Karin Valentine Goins; Milena Anatchkova; Ross C Brownson; Kelly Evenson; Jay Maddock; Kristian E Clausen; Stephenie C Lemon Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2016 May-Jun
Authors: Karin Valentine Goins; Kristin L Schneider; Ross Brownson; Cheryl Carnoske; Kelly R Evenson; Amy Eyler; Katie Heinrich; Jill Litt; Rodney Lyn; Jay Maddock; Hannah Reed; Nancy Oʼhara Tompkins; Stephenie C Lemon Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2013 May-Jun
Authors: Luisa Godinez Puig; Katharine Lusk; David Glick; Katherine L Einstein; Maxwell Palmer; Stacy Fox; Monica L Wang Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2020-10-27 Impact factor: 2.792