title: Factors associated with local public health agency participation in obesity prevention in southern States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity rates in the southern US states are higher than in other states. Historically, large-scale community-based interventions in the United States have not proven successful. With local public health agencies (LPHAs) tasked with prevention, their role in obesity prevention is important, yet little research exists regarding what predicts the participation of LPHAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from the 2008 National Association of City and County Health Officials profile study and two public health conceptual frameworks were used to assess structural and environmental predictors of LPHA participation in obesity prevention. The predictors were compared between southern and nonsouthern states. Univariate and weighted logistic regressions were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed that more LPHAs in southern states were engaged in nearly all of the 10 essential public health functions related to obesity prevention compared with nonsouthern states. Presence of community-based organizations and staffing levels were the only significant variables in two of the six logistic regression models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides insights into the success rates of the obesity prevention efforts of LPHAs in southern and nonsouthern states. Future research is needed to understand why and how certain structural elements and any additional factors influence LPHA participation in obesity prevention.
authors.affiliation: From the School of Health Administration, Texas State University College of Health Professions, San Marcos.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hatala
authors.affiliation: From the School of Health Administration, Texas State University College of Health Professions, San Marcos.
authors.forename: Tina T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Fields
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002017:Budgets; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005380:Financing, Government; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009111:Local Government; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D015144:Southeastern United States