title: Use of research evidence in state policymaking for childhood obesity prevention in Minnesota.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe how scientific evidence about obesity has been used in Minnesota legislative materials to understand how research evidence might more effectively be translated into policymaking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 13 obesity-related bills introduced from 2007 to 2011 in Minnesota. Using state archives, we collected all legislative committee meeting materials and floor testimony related to each bill. We used a coding instrument to systematically analyze the content of a sample of 109 materials for their use of research evidence and non-research-based information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research evidence was mentioned in 41% of all legislative materials. Evidence was often used to describe the prevalence or consequences of obesity or policy impacts but not to describe health disparities. In 45% of materials that cited evidence, no source of evidence was indicated. By contrast, 92% of materials presented non-research-based information, such as expert beliefs, constituent opinion, political principles, and anecdotes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite an abundance of available research evidence on obesity, less than half of legislative materials cited any such evidence in discussions around obesity-related bills under consideration in Minnesota.
authors.affiliation: Sarah E. Gollust is with the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis. At the time of the study, Hanna A. Kite was with the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and Sara J. Benning was with the Children, Youth, & Family Consortium, University of Minnesota Extension, Minneapolis. Rachel A. Callanan is with the American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate, Edina, MN. Susan R. Weisman is with the Public Health Law Center, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN. Marilyn S. Nanney is with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and the Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gollust
authors.forename: Hanna A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kite
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Benning
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Callanan
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: Marilyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nanney
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011050:Policy Making