Community forum identifies opportunities to engage with Eastern Kentucky community leaders about chronic disease and environmental pollution

Abstract

The NIEHS-sponsored Appalachian Health & Well-Being Community Forum held in Eastern Kentucky brought various community members together to communicate and establish better coordination of efforts to improve health and address regional environmental issues. The 2-hour forum discussion provided bi-directional feedback about the needs and interests of community members. Top concerns of community members included obesity and obesity-related diseases and environmental pollution. Healthful lifestyles were identified as part of the remedy to protect health from potential adverse health effects associated with environmental pollution. This study highlights opportunities to engage with Appalachian communities around topics related to health and environmental pollution.

Acknowledgments

Funding for this project was provided by the NIH/NIEHS (Award# P42ES007380). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the NIH/NIEHS (Award# P42ES007380). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.