Assessing Capacity to Address Obesity for Cancer Prevention and Control

University Of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE

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Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY This application is being submitted in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identified as NOT-CA- 25-004. Nebraska faces disproportionately high rates of several cancers and one of its major risk factors, obesity. Obesity is particularly common among Nebraska’s at-risk populations, including rural inhabitants, positioning the state as a unique setting to investigate determinants of cancer risk. Mitigating obesity is achievable through a multi-modal approach, encompassing not just individual behaviors (e.g., nutrition, physical activity) but broader social, environmental, and policy influences, especially for populations disproportionately affected by obesity and related cancers. Therefore, this study proposes a community- informed approach that integrates Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes and Whole Systems Approaches (WSA) to address obesity and its upstream determinants. By engaging partners from multiple sectors, including healthcare systems, academic institutions, community leaders, and public health agencies, we aim to identify and prioritize context-specific interventions that reflect the needs and capacities of Nebraska communities. This proposal will: 1) Analyze the prevalence of obesity and its behavioral determinants (e.g., diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity patterns) across demographic groups and geographic regions in Nebraska, with a focus on rural populations; 2) Conduct a comprehensive environmental scan to identify and engage key partners across distinct sectors relevant to obesity prevention and treatment, including community leaders, healthcare systems, academic institutions, and representatives of the State and County Health Departments; and 3) Conduct qualitative research through community-engaged convenings across the breadth of our catchment area to identify priorities, attitudes, and beliefs surrounding obesity and its behavioral and environmental determinants. Specifically, we will partner with Nebraska Extension to hold listening sessions with representative communities across the state to understand unique barriers and efforts used to combat obesity. These aims will result in a cataloged and searchable document that identifies current and ongoing efforts across the state and convene key community partners, including the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s Community Advisory Board, to facilitate collaboration and inform future obesity prevention strategies. This comprehensive overview will serve as a valuable tool for leaders in obesity prevention, enabling them to identify potential synergies, avoid duplication of efforts, and develop more targeted and effective obesity prevention interventions in Nebraska. This work will lay the foundation for sustainable strategies tailored to Nebraska’s unique context, ultimately fostering future multi-sector interventions aimed at lowering obesity rates and improving cancer control across the state.