Weight Management | Center for Healthcare Policy and Research

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Prevention Policy & Practice Group

Weight management

  • 3PG’s weight management project, called the Koa Family Program, was developed with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education and CAL FIRE. It was a community-based, whole health, telewellness program addressing weight loss, healthy diet, active living, and other psychosocial outcomes among women with low income. The program was designed and tested through a two-stage research project, entitled the Koa Family Study.

  • Koa Family Study - formative research

    The Koa Family Study (KFS) was designed as a two-stage research project. The first stage consisted of formative research to obtain fresh perspectives from community members as well as public health and health care leaders regarding nutrition, physical activity, and factors associated with the ongoing obesity epidemic. Details regarding the methods, findings, and analysis of the formative research data are summarized in the report, Results of Formative Research.

  • Koa Family Study - randomized controlled trial

    The second stage of the Koa Family Study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) based on the findings of the formative research. The primary aim of the RCT was to test the impact of the program on reducing weight and improving diet, physical activity, and other health indicators. The RCT resulted in clinically significant weight loss at Week 18 of the study and the weight loss was sustained at Week 25. Additional details on the Koa Family Study and Program are found in the Koa Family Study Summary.

Video ethnographies
  • View videos sharing community perspectives on the obesity epidemic.

  • Being the change

    Perspectives on improving health and well-being: reflections from community leaders

  • Raising up the children

    Perspectives on improving health and well-being: reflections from community members