Research Frameworks

These widely disseminated frameworks, were developed by CBH members to promote full consideration of relevant historical, social, economic, and cultural context influences on the ability to achieve and sustain healthy lifestyles with respect to eating and physical activity patterns and body weight. These issues are a main focus for many CBH members — continuing this aspect of the AACORN legacy. They are critical Black health for healthy child growth and development and for minimizing risks of type 2 diabetes, which affects both Black children and adults disproportionately and heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers in Black adults.

Community Impact

The Expanded Obesity Research Paradigm is based on the premise that the behaviors that determine weight status are embedded in the core social and cultural processes and environments of day-to-day life. Therefore, identifying effective solutions to obesity requires an ecological model that is inclusive of relevant contextual variables, which include variables influenced by race/ethnicity and social position.

For more information see: Expanding the Obesity Research Paradigm to Reach African Americans

The Equity Oriented Obesity Prevention Framework (“Getting to Equity, or GTE” Framework) promotes synergistic approaches that combines four different types of policy or programmatic efforts: 1) changing in policies, systems or environmental (PSE) influences designed to increase options for healthy eating and physical activity; 2) changing in PSE influences that may discourage or prevent uptake of these healthy options; 3) leveraging public or private sector policies and programs that address individuals’ social needs; and 4) build on communities’ capacity to take full advantage of favorable changes in PSE influence.

For more information see: A Framework for Increasing Equity Impact in Obesity Prevention