Obesity and nutrition education, integrating structural factors, increases knowledge and applied learning

Abstract

We developed a novel curriculum and trained under‐represented health profession students to understand individual factors, and structural determinants relevant to local and federal health policies that influence childhood obesity and nutrition in Hispanic populations. Predominantly Hispanic undergraduate students (n = 48) completed the nine‐month program, including coursework, internships, and pre‐ and post‐ program surveys. A comparison group (n = 32) also completed pre/post surveys. The 55‐item survey yielded seven constructs on student's perceived understanding of: 1) future careers in nutrition/childhood obesity; 2) public policies; 3) the built environment 4) built environment and obesity research 5) Latino Health Access (LHA) goals 6) childhood obesity and 7) nutrition. Paired t‐tests showed significant (p < 0.05) knowledge gains for all constructs from baseline to nine‐month. Regression analyses (n = 43), adjusted for gender, age and other covariates showed that the intervention students perceived significantly greater knowledge gains in public policy (p<0.001), the built environment (p<0.015), built environment and obesity research (p<0.002), LHA goals (p<.001), and childhood obesity (p<0.002) than the comparison students. Intervention students also gained multimedia skills, which resulted in over 100 posts, 20 multi‐media presentations and nearly 6,240 service hours. These findings suggest that an interdisciplinary nutrition and childhood obesity education program can improve students' knowledge and experience in multi‐level factors affecting obesity.