Abstract

Eat Smart, Move More NC (ESMMNC) is a state-level organization spearheading creating solutions to North Carolina’s extremely high and still growing obesity rate of 27.7% among adults. On behalf of the ESMMNC Policy Committee, the research team conducted an online survey and subsequent phone interviews with representatives of local coalitions in North Carolina to investigate the frequency of work to promote nutrition and physical activity policies. Researchers specifically investigated healthy policies currently being worked on in workplaces, communities, and schools at the local level in North Carolina. During the study, 78 local coalition representatives were contacted to participate in an online survey. Following the on-line survey, 21 randomly selected respondents were contacted for follow-up phone interviews. In both worksite and community settings, local coalition representatives report they are most focused on policies to provide access to healthy food through farm stands, mobile markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agricultural Programs), or vending. In schools, local coalition representatives report their highest area of focus is policies to support physical education and healthful living in schools. There is a large scope of policy work being done at the local level in North Carolina. The data show specific areas of focus, and also policy areas that have far fewer coalitions working on. Based on the results, the research team recommends that Eat Smart, Move More NC continues to support local coalitions by providing more example policies/policy making materials, facilitate connectivity among coalition representatives, and working to fill the voids left by disbanding coalitions and organizations. A focus should also remain on supporting what is already being done, encouraging policy work in areas of high importance but receiving little attention, and maintaining an understanding of the state-wide local policy work is under way.

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