Association of social network factors with weight status and weight loss intentions among hispanic adults.

Hispanic adults have the highest obesity prevalence in the United States, but little is known about weight-related social network influences. A community-based sample of 610 Hispanic participants completed height/weight and a survey. The proportion of overweight or obese (OW/OB) network members was higher for OW/OB respondents compared to normal weight respondents. Participants with high weight loss intentions reported more positive social norms for weight control, social support, and social cohesion. If most or all of OW/OB participant's social contacts were trying to lose weight, the odds that they were likely to try to lose weight was four times higher than other participants. The relationship between weight loss intentions and number of social contacts trying to lose weight was strongly mediated by social norms for weight control and social support. These results suggest that social contacts and functional network characteristics may impact weight status and weight control intentions among Hispanic adults.

Body Size Perceptions Associated with Body Mass Index and Weight Loss Intentions Among Two Immigrant Populations.

BACKGROUND: The rates of obesity among immigrant populations within the USA rise with increasing duration of residency. The aims of this study were to examine weight self-perception and body image discrepancy within a large community sample of Hispanic and Somali predominantly immigrant adults. METHODS: Utilizing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to collect survey data from a sample of adults who self-identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Somali in Southeast Minnesota. Correlations among actual body mass index (BMI), perceived weight category, and perceived body size were assessed with Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Associations of weight loss intentions with actual BMI, perceived weight category, perceived body size, and body image discrepancy were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests. RESULTS: A total of 1256 adults completed the survey and biometric measurements (610 Hispanic, 646 Somali); 81% (457) and 50% (328) had a BMI in the overweight or obese category in the Hispanic and Somali cohorts, respectively. Among participants with a BMI of > 25, more participants reported a perceived body size that was overweight or obese than a perceived weight category that was in the overweight or obese category (79% vs. 48%, p = < 0.0001). Body image discrepancy, but not actual BMI, was associated with weight loss intentions for both groups. Perceived body size and perceived weight category were associated with weight loss intentions for Hispanic participants only. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived body size is a more accurate self-report proxy of BMI-defined weight status compared with the perceived weight category among Hispanic and Somali immigrant groups. Body image discrepancy may be more predictive of weight loss intentions than actual BMI.

The Recruitment to Dissemination Continuum in Community-based Participatory Research.

BACKGROUND: Dissemination of research findings to participants and communities, particularly among traditionally marginalized groups, is a systemic challenge. In community-based participatory research (CBPR), long-term partnerships may foster a link between recruitment to research studies, dissemination of results, and recruitment to future studies. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the recruitment to dissemination continuum of a CBPR study and its potential impact on partnership processes and future research. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with four focus groups with community members and academic partners who participated in the recruitment and the dissemination of research findings from a study of Hispanic and Somali social networks in Rochester, Minnesota. Thematic analysis and coding of focus group transcripts was conducted by investigators. The CBPR conceptual model for this partnership guided the analysis. RESULTS: Trust, relationship building, and capacity building were key features for successful participant recruitment and research dissemination strategies. Strategies, resources, and relationships used or developed during the recruitment phase of research were directly applied to planning a dissemination event. Participants and members of their communities said they were more likely to participate in future research studies as a result of attending a dissemination event. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the ways in which recruitment of marginalized populations to research studies and dissemination of study results can manifest as a continuum. This continuum is nurtured by trust, longitudinal relationships, and robust partnership dynamics. These factors fit well within an existing CBPR conceptual model.

Leveraging community engaged research partnerships for crisis and emergency risk communication to vulnerable populations in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community engagement is important for reaching vulnerable populations in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A risk communication framework was implemented by a community-engaged research (CEnR) partnership in Southeast Minnesota to address COVID-19 prevention, testing, and socioeconomic impacts. Bidirectional communication between Communication Leaders and community members within their social networks was used by the partnership to refine messages, leverage resources, and advise policy makers. Over 14 days, messages were delivered by 24 Communication Leaders in 6 languages across 9 electronic platforms to 9882 individuals within their networks. CEnR partnerships may effectively implement crisis and emergency risk communication to vulnerable populations in a pandemic.