Evaluation of the impact of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities obesity prevention programs and policies in Buffalo, New York

Healthy Kids, Healthy Community (HKHC) has been instrumental in supporting policies and programs geared towards the reduction of the prevalence of childhood obesity in Buffalo. This study was carried out to determine the impact of HKHC supported programs and policies on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Buffalo. The researcher sought to determine the successes and failures of HKHC programs and policies by carrying using appreciative inquiry as a research design. The coordinator of HKHC and the coordinators of 3 HKHC supported programs were interviewed. Collaboration was identified as being a key factor in the success of the programs while lack of political good will, insecurity, long term sustenance of programs and cultural resistance were identified as challenges. There was a positive relation between the reduction of childhood obesity and the HKHC supported programs and policies, but this finding was limited to the preliminary findings of research by two of the 3 HKHC supported programs. Future research needs to focus on obtaining comprehensive statistics to support these preliminary findings.