1 / 25

Walking the Walk Implementing a Successful Physical Activity Program Among Utah Pacific Islanders

Walking the Walk Implementing a Successful Physical Activity Program Among Utah Pacific Islanders. Ivoni Nash, Presenter Fahina Tavake-Pasi, Brenda Ralls, PhD National Tongan American Society Salt Lake City, Utah Third National Leadership Summit

erika
Download Presentation

Walking the Walk Implementing a Successful Physical Activity Program Among Utah Pacific Islanders

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Walking the WalkImplementing a Successful Physical Activity Program Among Utah Pacific Islanders Ivoni Nash, Presenter Fahina Tavake-Pasi, Brenda Ralls, PhD National Tongan American Society Salt Lake City, Utah Third National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health February 25-27, 2009 National Harbor, MD

  2. Disclosure In the past 12 months, I have had no relevant financial relationship with a commercial organization which produces health-care products or services. Name: Ivoni Nash Email: korbin1@gmail.com

  3. “We, Pacific Islander immigrants, bring our traditions.” “Having to comply to a diet is against what we think life really is.” “Exercise! I worked hard in Tonga, I come to America to rest” Focus Groups

  4. Tongan Beauty .

  5. Developing Country: Food is Scarce Sobal & Stunkard, 1989

  6. “And becoming westernized” Coming to America

  7. . Beauty in Developed Countries

  8. Developed Country: Junk food is cheap & abundant Lower income people have higher rates of overweight and obesity Sobal and Stunkard, 1989

  9. National Tongan American Society“Healthy Living in the Tongan American Community Survey” ● Respondents ● n=390 ■ Criteria ■ Adult (18 years and older) ■ Pacific Islander ■ Utah Resident ▲Recruitment ▲ Churches ▲ Festivals ▲ Community sites (senior centers, pool hall, laundry mat, etc.) ▲ Homes ▲ E-mail

  10. Source: Utah BRFSS 2007

  11. Source: Healthy Living in the Utah Tongan American Community 2008

  12. Body PerceptionMales Both males and females selected leaner males ( #1 and #2) as the most attractive and healthiest males Stacy Van Arnsdale: Artist

  13. Females But both males and females selected leaner and slightly heavier females ( #1, #2, and #3) as the most attractive and healthiest females Stacy Van Arnsdale: Artist

  14. Body Preference? Eating behaviors? Meaning of Food? Inactivity? Beauty? Laziness?? Cultural Values? Root Cause of Obesity? .

  15. Eating can reduce stress Eating is a way to connect with others Food can represent caring and respect Our survey showed three main feelings about food:

  16. Only 40% reported they engaged in any physical activity Among that 40%, most (78%) felt they did not get enough exercise. Physical Activity?

  17. “Walk for Life” • Location: Urban park in Salt Lake City • Moved to shopping mall during winter – close to community • No pressure: Walk at own pace (with seats available for resting)

  18. Walking . . . . • Focus is on women (and children to get parents out) • Walking provides socialization opportunities • NTAS provides materials (reading, meters, water) • Miss Tonga Utah is a mentor for the Walk

  19. “Walk for Life” Awards Program

  20. “Family Fun Time” • Adapted from “Strengthening the Family” Program • Worked with a church to conduct pilot program • Included the whole family • Provided only healthy snacks (fruit, whole-wheat)

  21. Family Fun Time, continued • Exercise vs. family games (sock throwing, red-light green-light, tickle/protect family member, balloon popping) • Used pedometers to track steps per family • Produced a booklet with types of games that can be used by the families.

  22. Thank you! • Obesity project funded by Health Through Action, a community investment initiative from the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. • Family Fun Time project funded by Diabetes Prevention and Control Department of Utah Department of Health.

  23. Contact Information Ivoni Nash Fahina Tavake-Pasi National Tongan American Society 3007 S. West Temple Building J, Suite 7 Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801) 467-8712 ntas.slc@planet-tonga.com

More Related