82 FR 55846 - NIH Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Methods for Evaluating Natural Experiments in Obesity
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 225 (November 24, 2017)
National Institutes of Health
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 225 (November 24, 2017)
| Page Range | 55846-55846 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25335 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2017)] [Notices] [Page 55846] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25335] [[Page 55846]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health NIH Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Methods for Evaluating Natural Experiments in Obesity AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a workshop about Methods for Evaluating Natural Experiments in Obesity on December 5-6, 2017. The workshop is free and open to the public. DATES: December 5, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and December 6, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the NIH, Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Registration and workshop information are available on the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) Web site at https://prevention.nih.gov/P2PObesity. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning this workshop, contact Kate Winseck at NIHP2P@mail.nih.gov, 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 2B03, MSC 7523, Bethesda, MD 20892-7523; Telephone: 301-827-5561; FAX: 301-480-7660. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Obesity is a major contributor to serious health conditions in children and adults. The prevalence of obesity in the United States and globally has grown rapidly in the last three decades; thus, there is a pressing need to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Obesity and obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers contribute to increased morbidity and mortality across the lifespan, resulting in a significant public health and economic burden. In 2008, the medical costs in the United States for individuals with obesity were $1,429 higher than for those with normal weight, resulting in an estimated annual medical cost of $147 billion (CDC). Much is already known about obesity, including many of its proximate causes:Poor-quality diet Overconsumption of calories Lack of physical activity Excessive sedentary time However, because multiple factors (lifestyle, socioeconomics, the environment, etc.) contribute to obesity, it remains an exceedingly complex condition to study. Major gaps exist in our understanding of appropriate and effective societal and systems changes to achieve a healthier energy balance (intake [calories] vs. output [activity]) for individuals. In part, these gaps are related to the amount of research completed to date and to methodological challenges, which range from measuring environmental influences on the causes of obesity to designing and implementing practical and rigorous evaluations of natural experiments. Studies of natural experiments can allow insights into the effects that programs, interventions, or policies have on health-related outcomes including obesity. In obesity prevention research, these include: Effects of investments in transportation infrastructure such as light rail or bike share programs Changes in the food environment, such as construction of new food retail outlets in food deserts or support for farmers' markets Consequences of economic policies such as taxes and subsidies, particularly those addressing low-income and at-risk populations Changes within organizations such as schools or workplaces Changes in health care systems related to prevention of obesity. Evaluating natural experiments in obesity prevention has seen growing support and interest. However, incomplete development and lack of standardization in study designs, data collection methods, and statistical approaches present significant challenges to this research. Closing gaps in obesity prevention research has the potential to advance the field and effect change in obesity prevention nationally. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is engaging in a rigorous assessment of the available scientific evidence to better understand appropriate, high-quality natural experiment research designs in the field of obesity prevention and control. The NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP); National Cancer Institute (NCI); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) are sponsoring the Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Methods for Evaluating Natural Experiments in Obesity on December 5-6, 2017, in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop seeks to clarify the following questions: 1. What population-based data sources have been used in studies of how programs, policies, or built environment changes affect or are associated with obesity prevention and control outcomes? 2. What methods have been used to link different population-based data sources? 3. What obesity measures, dietary and physical behaviors, and other outcomes have been assessed in studies of how programs, policies, or built environment changes affect or are associated with obesity prevention and control? 4. Which experimental and non-experimental methods have been used in studies of how programs, policies, or built environment changes affect or are associated with obesity prevention and control outcomes? 5. What are the risks of bias in studies of how programs, policies, or built environment changes affect or are associated with obesity prevention and control outcomes? 6. What methodological/analytic advances (e.g., data system features, approaches to linking data sources, or analytic methods) would help to strengthen efforts to estimate the effect of programs, policies, or built environment changes on obesity prevention and control? During the 1\1/2\-day workshop, experts discuss the state of the science, an evidence report prepared by an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence-based Practice Center is presented, and attendees provide comments during open discussion periods. After weighing all evidence, an unbiased, independent panel prepares a draft report that identifies research gaps and future research priorities. The draft report is posted on the ODP Web site for public comment. After reviewing the public comments, the panel prepares a final report, which is also posted on the ODP Web site. The ODP then convenes a Federal Partners Meeting to review the panel report and identify possible opportunities for collaboration. Please Note: As part of measures to ensure the safety of NIH employees and property, all visitors must be prepared to show a photo ID upon request. Visitors may be required to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks, or purses inspected or X- rayed as they enter the NIH campus. For more information about the security measures at the NIH, please visit http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm. Dated: November 15, 2017. Lawrence A. Tabak, Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 2017-25335 Filed 11-22-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
![55846 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 225 / Friday, November 24, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND Major gaps exist in our understanding associated with obesity prevention and
HUMAN SERVICES of appropriate and effective societal and control outcomes?
systems changes to achieve a healthier 2. What methods have been used to
National Institutes of Health energy balance (intake [calories] vs. link different population-based data
output [activity]) for individuals. In sources?
NIH Pathways to Prevention part, these gaps are related to the
Workshop: Methods for Evaluating amount of research completed to date 3. What obesity measures, dietary and
Natural Experiments in Obesity and to methodological challenges, physical behaviors, and other outcomes
which range from measuring have been assessed in studies of how
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, programs, policies, or built environment
HHS. environmental influences on the causes
of obesity to designing and changes affect or are associated with
ACTION: Notice. obesity prevention and control?
implementing practical and rigorous
SUMMARY: The National Institutes of evaluations of natural experiments. 4. Which experimental and non-
Health (NIH) will host a workshop about Studies of natural experiments can experimental methods have been used
Methods for Evaluating Natural allow insights into the effects that in studies of how programs, policies, or
Experiments in Obesity on December 5– programs, interventions, or policies built environment changes affect or are
6, 2017. The workshop is free and open have on health-related outcomes associated with obesity prevention and
to the public. including obesity. In obesity prevention control outcomes?
research, these include:
DATES: December 5, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. 5. What are the risks of bias in studies
• Effects of investments in
to 5:15 p.m. and December 6, 2017 from of how programs, policies, or built
transportation infrastructure such as
8:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. environment changes affect or are
light rail or bike share programs
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held associated with obesity prevention and
• Changes in the food environment,
at the NIH, Natcher Conference Center, control outcomes?
such as construction of new food retail
Building 45, 9000 Rockville Pike, outlets in food deserts or support for 6. What methodological/analytic
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Registration farmers’ markets advances (e.g., data system features,
and workshop information are available • Consequences of economic policies approaches to linking data sources, or
on the NIH Office of Disease Prevention such as taxes and subsidies, particularly analytic methods) would help to
(ODP) Web site at https:// those addressing low-income and at-risk strengthen efforts to estimate the effect
prevention.nih.gov/P2PObesity. populations of programs, policies, or built
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For • Changes within organizations such environment changes on obesity
further information concerning this as schools or workplaces prevention and control?
workshop, contact Kate Winseck at • Changes in health care systems During the 11⁄2-day workshop, experts
NIHP2P@mail.nih.gov, 6100 Executive related to prevention of obesity. discuss the state of the science, an
Blvd., Room 2B03, MSC 7523, Bethesda, Evaluating natural experiments in evidence report prepared by an Agency
MD 20892–7523; Telephone: 301–827– obesity prevention has seen growing for Healthcare Research and Quality
5561; FAX: 301–480–7660. support and interest. However, Evidence-based Practice Center is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Obesity is incomplete development and lack of presented, and attendees provide
a major contributor to serious health standardization in study designs, data comments during open discussion
conditions in children and adults. The collection methods, and statistical periods. After weighing all evidence, an
prevalence of obesity in the United approaches present significant unbiased, independent panel prepares a
States and globally has grown rapidly in challenges to this research. Closing gaps draft report that identifies research gaps
the last three decades; thus, there is a in obesity prevention research has the and future research priorities. The draft
pressing need to help people achieve potential to advance the field and effect report is posted on the ODP Web site for
and maintain a healthy weight. change in obesity prevention nationally. public comment. After reviewing the
Obesity and obesity-related The National Institutes of Health public comments, the panel prepares a
conditions such as type 2 diabetes and (NIH) is engaging in a rigorous final report, which is also posted on the
certain types of cancers contribute to assessment of the available scientific ODP Web site. The ODP then convenes
increased morbidity and mortality evidence to better understand a Federal Partners Meeting to review the
across the lifespan, resulting in a appropriate, high-quality natural panel report and identify possible
significant public health and economic experiment research designs in the field opportunities for collaboration.
burden. In 2008, the medical costs in of obesity prevention and control. The
the United States for individuals with NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP); Please Note: As part of measures to ensure
obesity were $1,429 higher than for National Cancer Institute (NCI); the safety of NIH employees and property, all
those with normal weight, resulting in National Heart, Lung, and Blood visitors must be prepared to show a photo ID
an estimated annual medical cost of Institute (NHLBI); and National Institute upon request. Visitors may be required to
$147 billion (CDC). of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney pass through a metal detector and have bags,
Much is already known about obesity, Diseases (NIDDK) are sponsoring the backpacks, or purses inspected or X-rayed as
including many of its proximate causes: Pathways to Prevention Workshop: they enter the NIH campus. For more
• Poor-quality diet Methods for Evaluating Natural information about the security measures at
• Overconsumption of calories Experiments in Obesity on December the NIH, please visit http://www.nih.gov/
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
• Lack of physical activity 5–6, 2017, in Bethesda, Maryland. The about/visitorsecurity.htm.
• Excessive sedentary time workshop seeks to clarify the following Dated: November 15, 2017.
However, because multiple factors questions:
Lawrence A. Tabak,
(lifestyle, socioeconomics, the 1. What population-based data
environment, etc.) contribute to obesity, sources have been used in studies of Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
it remains an exceedingly complex how programs, policies, or built [FR Doc. 2017–25335 Filed 11–22–17; 8:45 am]
condition to study. environment changes affect or are BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:19 Nov 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_56071/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-11-22 23:33:41
Document Modified: 2017-11-22 23:33:41
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | December 5, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and December 6, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. | |
| Contact | For further information concerning this workshop, contact Kate Winseck at [email protected], 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 2B03, MSC 7523, Bethesda, MD 20892-7523; Telephone: 301-827-5561; FAX: 301-480-7660. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 55846 |
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