title: Challenges of Data Dissemination Efforts Within a Community-Based Participatory Project About Persistent Racial Disparities in Excess Weight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite universal environmental and policy-focused initiatives that resulted in declines in obesity among children in Cambridge, Massachusetts, disparities persist among racial/ethnic groups. In response, a community coalition formed the Healthy Eating and Living Project (HELP), to investigate and disseminate findings regarding disparities in excess weight among Cambridge Black youth (ages 6-14), with the aim of facilitating reciprocal learning and community mobilization to ultimately increase community engagement and inform prevention efforts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper details the theoretical framework, methods, and results of disseminating HELP findings to various sectors of the Cambridge Black/African American (Black) community.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, the HELP coalition analyzed existing data and conducted qualitative studies with Cambridge Black families to better understand the sociocultural and familial determinants of excess weight. We then developed presentation and print materials and used different dissemination approaches. We solicited feedback to inform the dissemination process and mobilization of obesity prevention efforts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We disseminated information through six community groups (parents, students, pastors, men's health group, community leaders, and a health coalition), email lists, and websites. Reciprocal learning among and between HELP and community members yielded data presentation challenges, as well as prevention effort ideas and barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dissemination of local health data should be considered both as a strategy to increase community engagement and as an intervention to promote collective efficacy and community change. Careful attention should be dedicated to the language used when communicating racial disparities in excess weight to various community groups.
authors.forename: Bernice R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.forename: Josefine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Ardeene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodridge
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.forename: Virginia R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Chomitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors