Using a Social Marketing Framework to Transform an Education Program: Lessons from the Hispanic Obesity Prevention and Education (PESO) Program

Programa de Educación Sobre la Obesidad (PESO) was a targeted intervention which intended to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic, reduce the proportion of overweight and obese adults, and promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables within the Hispanic community of Seminole County, Florida. It was funded through the Florida Department of Health statewide Hispanic Obesity and Prevention Program. The PESO program utilized a multidisciplinary design to implement and evaluate a nutrition education and obesity reduction program. The 4-month program was a collaborative effort of the Seminole County Health Department, University of Central Florida, and Iglesia Vida Nueva church in Seminole County. We used a social marketing framework to deliver the curriculum and structure some of the lessons. In addition, we utilized this framework to critique, redesign, and make recommendations for future programs.

Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure in Hispanic Versus Non-Hispanic 6th Graders

Blood pressure screening was conducted on 4,311 (Hispanic n = 763 [17.7%], White n = 2,566 [59.5%], African American n = 610 [14.1%], Asian n = 136 [3.2%], Multiracial n = 231 [5.4%], and Native American n = 5 [0.1%]) 6th-grade students enrolled in Seminole County, Florida, Public Schools from August to December 2005. Prevalence of obesity was 21% for the overall population, with Hispanics n = 218 (28.6%) having a greater prevalence than non-Hispanics n = 630 (19.0%). Following a second screening, overall prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 1.9%, with Hispanics at 2.6% versus 1.6% for non-Hispanics. This was found to be significant when Hispanics were further compared to the White population. However, when adjusted for obesity, elevated blood pressure was not significant for Hispanics. Results confirm the presence of elevated blood pressure and obesity in all population groups, with an elevated risk for both among the Hispanic population.

Upper Pennsylvanian tetrapods from the Ada Formation of Seminole County, Oklahoma

A recently discovered tetrapod-bearing locality (OMNH V1005) in the Upper Pennsylvanian Ada Formation of Oklahoma has produced the remains of six taxa: the pelycosaurian-grade synapsid Ophiacodon cf. mirus, an indeterminate sphenacodontian pelycosaur, the temnospondyl Eryops? sp., the rare diadectid Diasparactus zenos, and two unidentified taxa known only from jaw fragments. The skeletal material comprises an allochthonous assemblage transported by low-velocity currents prior to burial. Except for four articulated Ophiacodon vertebral segments, all fossil material recovered in situ was disarticulated. The bones were not exposed to prolonged periods of weathering prior to burial. OMNH V1005 records the first occurrence of Eryops, Diasparactus, and Ophiacodon from the Pennsylvanian of Oklahoma. The presence of Diasparactus zenos indicates that this species was not endemic to New Mexico, as formerly believed. An associated dentary provides the first well-preserved cheek teeth of Diasparactus zenos. Compared to other North American diadectid genera, these teeth resemble more closely those of Diadectes than those of Desmatodon. The occurrence of Ophiacodon mirus, which was previously known from Lower Permian strata of New Mexico, extends both the stratigraphic and geographic range of this species. The Ada assemblage resembles those found in Permo-Carboniferous deltaic deposits in the southwestern United States.