State Childhood Obesity Policy Evaluation (SCOPE): 2012-2014

Project Dates: 2012-2014

The SCOPE project compares legislative databases for comprehensiveness and usability; researches state childhood obesity legislation and the predictors of enactment; and interviews state legislators to determine barriers and facilitators of introducing and enacting legislation relevant to childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. In response, there has been a focus on identifying effective interventions and prevention strategies to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. In recent years, many states have introduced and enacted legislation that focuses on obesity prevention in youth in schools and community settings. Identifying and evaluating these policies is an important facet of obesity research. SCOPE is a two year rese Childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. In response, there has been a focus on identifying effective interventions and prevention strategies to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. In recent years, many arch project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that continues the work of the Childhood Obesity Policy Study (COPS) completed in 2005 at the PRC. The SCOPE research team will identify state legislation from 2006 to 2009 that addresses obesogenic environments, look for factors that increase enactment of such legislation and interview state legislators about the factors that facilitate and inhibit passing such legislation.

The SCOPE study consists of two phases. First, states were grouped into one of four categories based on state childhood obesity levels (from the 2007 National Survey of Child Health), and the number of enacted obesity prevention bills. States were categorized in quadrants by high-low legislation and high-low obesity levels. States in each quadrant were selected for the qualitative phase of the SCOPE study. Within these states, legislators will be interviewed to identify differences and similarities among states in the four quadrants in relation to childhood obesity prevention. In the second phase of the study the SCOPE team will study factors that are related to increased rates of policy enactment, and identify components of the legislation that are evidence-based. A hierarchical model will be created to analyze state, legislator, gubernatorial, and bill-level factors that could impact enactment of legislation. Additionally the SCOPE team will compare the usability and comprehensiveness of online policy databases. Briefs, articles, and presentations will be produced and disseminated from of each part of the study. The categories of bills collected for analysis include:

Community Based Legislative Interventions:

• Breastfeeding
• Public Transit
• Complete Streets
• Trails and Paths (biking and walking)
• Pedestrian Safety
• Parks and Green Spaces
• Sports and Physical Fitness
• Farmers Markets
• Food Deserts
• Product Labeling
• Menu Labeling
• Snack Taxes
• Soda Taxes
• Childcare Centers
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Activity

School Based Legislative Interventions:

• Farm to School Programs
• School Nutrition
  • Breakfast Programs
  • Vending Machines
  • Nutrition Guidelines
• BMI Testing/Recording
• Health Education
• Physical Education
• Outdoor/Environmental Education
• Obesity Taskforces/Studies
• Safe Routes to School
• Local Authority
• Screen Time
• Model School Policies

Project Goals

•  Develop a descriptive content review for state policies relating to childhood obesity.
•  Describe the predictors of enactment of legislation on childhood obesity prevention.
•  Compare the patterns and quality (e.g., extent of coverage, inclusion of evidence-based features) of    legislation in states with high and low levels of childhood obesity prevalence.
•  Summarize the process of state legislative analysis in a template for other researchers.

Implications for Research and Practice

State legislation is a powerful tool in changing environments. Legislation can improve accessibility to physical activity opportunities or ensure that school lunches are nutritious.  Studying the course of state childhood obesity prevention legislation allows policy advocates, obesity prevention professionals, legislators, and researchers to pinpoint gaps in policy.  It can also identify states that should be targeted for advocacy work.  Legislation can provide positive changes to the environment to help prevent childhood obesity.

Project Contact

Amy Eyler: aeyler@wustl.edu

Project Staff

Principal Investigator: Amy Eyler, PhD CHES

Investigator: Ross Brownson, PhD

Project Manager: Leah Nguyen, MSW

Research Assistant: Jooyoung Kong, MSW

Project Partners

Ellen Jones, MS, PhD Candidate, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Funding Source

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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