Sara N. Bleich, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This proposed NHLBI Mentored Career Development Award (K01) will provide the necessary support to facilitate Dr. Bleich's sucessful transition to an independent researcher in the field of obesity-related health care disparities. Dr. Bleich's long-term objective is to reduce health care disparities in the delivery and use of obesity-related services among vulnerable, high risk populations. The proposed training plan includes a series of learning activities to increase the candidate's knowledge of the theoretical underpinning of health care disparities and the clinical management of obesity as well as to develop new skills in data analysis (e.g., multilevel modeling, claims data, qualitiative data analysis),survey development, and intervention design/implementation methods. Building on these learning objectives, two types of research will be pursued during the award period - secondary analyses and primary data collection. Project aims for the secondary analyses are: to examine Black-White racial disparities in physician practice patterns of obesity care, using nationally representative and health plan data (Aim 1) and to identify the multilevel explanatory factors underlying racial disparities in individual self-management of body weight, using regional data (Aim 2). Primary data will be collected via focus groups. Focus groups will be conducted with obese patients, their families, health professionals and administrators to determine key patient- and provider-level barriers to optimal obesity care, whether they differ by patient race, and how these barriers can be overcome(Aim 3). This proposed career development plan is designed to provide Dr. Bleich with the additional experience and resources necessary to support the submission of a sucessful grant application (e.g., R01) to further explore racial disparities in physician practice patterns and self-management of body weight in a health plan population and to develop the necessary evidence base to mount effective interventions to improve adult obesity care in that setting. Reducing obesity and eliminating health disparities are both federal priorities. This project and future planned studies will contribute to that effort.

Public Health Relevance

Obesity disproportionally impacts minority populations, represents an enormous public health challenge, and is under-managed by physicians and patients. In light of the current federal priorities to reduce obesity and eliminate health disparities, there is a need to better understand racial disparities in practice patterns of obesity care and the multilevel explanatory factors underlying patient self-management of weight.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01HL096409-04
Application #
8309971
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-R (F2))
Program Officer
Nelson, Cheryl R
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$139,725
Indirect Cost
$10,350
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Wolfson, Julia A; Graham, Dan J; Bleich, Sara N (2017) Attention to Physical Activity-Equivalent Calorie Information on Nutrition Facts Labels: An Eye-Tracking Investigation. J Nutr Educ Behav 49:35-42.e1
Chaudhry, Z W; Doshi, R S; Mehta, A K et al. (2016) A systematic review of commercial weight loss programmes' effect on glycemic outcomes among overweight and obese adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Obes Rev 17:758-69
Bleich, Sara N; Wolfson, Julia A; Jarlenski, Marian P (2016) Calorie Changes in Large Chain Restaurants: Declines in New Menu Items but Room for Improvement. Am J Prev Med 50:e1-e8
Mehta, Ambereen K; Doshi, Ruchi S; Chaudhry, Zoobia W et al. (2016) Benefits of commercial weight-loss programs on blood pressure and lipids: a systematic review. Prev Med 90:86-99
Vakil, Rachit M; Doshi, Ruchi S; Mehta, Ambereen K et al. (2016) Direct comparisons of commercial weight-loss programs on weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 16:460
Bleich, Sara N; Bandara, Sachini; Bennett, Wendy et al. (2015) Enhancing the role of nutrition professionals in weight management: A cross-sectional survey. Obesity (Silver Spring) 23:454-60
Wolfson, Julia A; Bleich, Sara N (2015) Is cooking at home associated with better diet quality or weight-loss intention? Public Health Nutr 18:1397-406
Bleich, Sara N; Wolfson, Julia A; Jarlenski, Marian P (2015) Calorie changes in chain restaurant menu items: implications for obesity and evaluations of menu labeling. Am J Prev Med 48:70-5
Bleich, Sara N; Wolfson, Julia A (2015) Differences in consumer use of food labels by weight loss strategies and demographic characteristics. BMC Public Health 15:1275
Bleich, Sara N; Wolfson, Julia A (2015) U.S. adults and child snacking patterns among sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers and non-drinkers. Prev Med 72:8-14

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