This project was designed as an assessment of the overweight and obesity resources available in the City of Pittsburgh and the two boroughs of Braddock and Wilkinsburg. This project also designs a participatory action research intervention to address the specific needs and barriers of the region in regard to healthy lifestyles. This project was designed to address three objectives of HealthyPeople 2010: 1) to increase the proportion of adults who are at a healthy weight, 2) to increase the proportion of adults who exercise for at least 30 minutes daily and 3) to increase worksite accessible nutrition and weight management counseling.
Methodology
Two assessments of the region, a physical activity resource assessment and assessment of health and wellness opportunities offered by the regions top ten employers were facilitated. The physical activity resource assessment surveyed five parks in the region for walkability, barriers and incentives for community use. In conjunction with the assessment a participatory action research intervention with 13 collaborative partners was designed. The next stage assessments include focus groups and surveys.
Results
The five parks were found to offer a refuge from urban life within the city limits. Amenities in regard to public toilets, park information, parking and exercise information such as mile markers were often lacking. Eight of ten region employers offer health and wellness programs. The scope of services varied as did employee utilization of such services.
Conclusions
Allegheny County offers excellent venues for outdoor recreation. Unfortunately the public does not access these facilities. Employers in the region offer health and wellness programs but without substantial incentives, employees may abstain from participation. Determining the specific barriers to healthier lifestyle choices through participatory action research methodology is a first step to improving the overall health in the region.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-04122006-175420 |
| Date | 07 June 2006 |
| Creators | Fitzgerald, Katharine R |
| Contributors | Dr. Martha Ann Terry |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04122006-175420/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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