A interdisciplinary team of researchers, including Seth Noar, PhD, and Alice Ammerman, DrPH, investigated the impact a national campaign that combines media with community-based discussions can have on influencing beliefs, intentions, and policy support regarding obesity prevention.

UNC Lineberger's Seth Noar, PhD, and Alice Ammerman, DrPH, together with their UNC colleagues Courtney T. Luecking, MPH, MS, Rachel M. Dooley, MPH, and Ziya Gizlice, PhD, published a paper in a special issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that studied whether a nationwide effort that combines media with community-based discussions can influence beliefs, intentions, and policy support regarding obesity prevention. Specifically, the researchers sought to measure the short-term impact of “Weight of the Nation,” a four-part documentary series produced by HBO about the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, when paired with community forums. Luecking, a nutrition doctoral student, led the writing of the paper.

In a convenience sample of 442 participants (sample was mostly health workers, female, college educated, aged 25–44 years, and racially and ethnically diverse), the researchers found significant increases for perceived self- and collective efficacy that individuals and communities can influence policies and environmental factors that affect obesity, intentions to take actions that contribute to a healthy weight, and support for policies that change the food system. These findings led the researchers to conclude that nationwide efforts, such as Weight of the Nation, that combines media with opportunities to bring community members together for discussion, can help make obesity prevention efforts more efficacious.