Establishing a Baseline to Evaluate Act 1220 of 2003: An Act of the Arkansas General Assembly to Combat Childhood Obesity

Publication Date: June 2005

Publisher: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR

Author(s): J.M. Raczynski; M. Phillips; Z. Bursac; M. Birdsong; V. Evans; H. Gauss; M. Louvring; L. Pulley; D. West; J. Walker

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

In April 2003, Act 1220 of 2003 was passed by the Arkansas General Assembly and signed into law by the governor, creating a comprehensive program to combat childhood obesity in the state. With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the UAMS College of Public Health (now the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health) is evaluating the implementation of Act 1220 of 2003. This report is the first component of the evaluation effort and includes the following:

* A historical narrative outlining the process that resulted in adoption of the Act.
* The results of baseline surveys and interviews of school superintendents and principals about the Act.
* The results of baseline surveys of parents and adolescents about the Act, their general knowledge about weight control, and health-related behavior patterns of Arkansas youth.
* An outline of the next steps in the evaluation process.