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7 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 179-188

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From page 179...
... To address its task (see Box 1-2) , the committee assessed common data sources, extracted information from recent published reports, and reviewed associated protocols and data collection instruments.
From page 180...
... Conclusion 1: The committee concludes that existing data sources used to estimate prevalence and trends in obesity vary by factors, including study design, geographic representation, data collection methodolo gies, and overall intent. Each offers specific and distinct information about the state of obesity.
From page 181...
... Conclusion 2: The committee concludes that inclusion of subgroups in data sources provides essential insight into how obesity prevalence and trends estimates vary within and between population groups. However, insufficient sample size is a primary limitation to generating reliable estimates.
From page 182...
... Conclusion 3: The committee concludes that although all measures have limitations, directly measured height and weight data collected using a standardized protocol provide the best estimates of obesity prevalence. Self- and proxy-reported height and weight data can be used to fill data gaps and provide insight into overall obesity trends, although these data collection methods do not produce prevalence estimates comparable to those based on direct measure.
From page 183...
... Given this landscape, the committee offers recommendations in three areas: assessing published reports on obesity prevalence and trends; improving future data collection efforts; and conducting research to address data gaps. Assessing Obesity Prevalence and Trends Reports Because understanding and appropriately applying estimates of obesity prevalence and trends is a complex process, the committee provides the Assessing Prevalence and Trends (APT)
From page 184...
... Future Data Collection By evaluating the methodological approaches presented in published literature on obesity prevalence and trends, this report serves as an important starting point for moving toward comparable, more unified data collection, analysis, and reporting practices. Current practices, however, are determined by more than just the analytic and scientific rationale presented in a published report.
From page 185...
... Guided by the APT Framework and methodologic considerations presented throughout this report, the proposed convening would serve as an opportunity to discuss challenges to implementation that exist and consider opportunities for innovation. The committee recommends a range of relevant topics be considered, including • Determining ways to leverage existing infrastructure and surveil lance systems, and improve and sustain capacity.
From page 186...
... ; • Academic researchers; • Research organizations; • Research funders; • Obesity oriented and public health professional organizations; and • Other decision makers at who operate at the national, state, and local levels. Research to Address Gaps The assessment of obesity prevalence and trends estimates continues to change with technological, methodological, and statistical advancements.
From page 187...
... • Identifying appropriate measures of core demographic variables -- including but not limited to race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and rurality -- that can be captured in a consistent manner across various data collection efforts at the national, state, and local levels. As the demographic landscape of the country continues to change, it will become increasingly vital to characterize popula tions in ways that capture the diversity that exists.


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