Abstract-Obesity is a major influence on the development and course of cardiovascular diseases and affects physical and social functioning and quality of life. The importance of effective interventions to reduce obesity and related health risks has increased in recent decades because the number of adults and children who are obese has reached epidemic proportions. To prevent the development of overweight and obesity throughout the life course, population-based strategies that improve social and physical environmental contexts for healthful eating and physical activity are essential. Population-based approaches to obesity prevention are complementary to clinical preventive strategies and also to treatment programs for those who are already obese. This American Heart Association scientific statement aims: 1) to raise awareness of the importance of undertaking population-based initiatives specifically geared to the prevention of excess weight gain in adults and children; 2) to describe considerations for undertaking obesity prevention overall and in key risk subgroups; 3) to differentiate environmental and policy approaches to obesity prevention from those used in clinical prevention and obesity treatment; 4) to identify potential targets of environmental and policy change using an ecological model that includes multiple layers of influences on eating and physical activity across multiple societal sectors; and 5) to highlight the spectrum of potentially relevant interventions and the nature of evidence needed to inform population-based approaches. The evidence-based experience for population-wide approaches to obesity prevention is highlighted. (Circulation. 2008;118:428-464.)

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In this study, we examined black subjects' preferences for salient counselor characteristics. A sample of 128 black students at a community college were asked to express their preference for counselors similar or dissimilar to them across eight counselor characteristics (ethnicity, sex, religion, educational background, socioeconomic background, attitudes and values, personality, and age) identified from previous research. A total of 120 paired comparisons were generated to compare preferences for the 16 similar and dissimilar counselor characteristics. The results revealed that the top five preferred counselor characteristics were more education, similar attitudes and values, older, similar personality, and same ethnicity, in that order. Additional analysis of within-group preference profiles revealed no consistent difference by commitment to Afro-American culture, sex, or previous counseling experience.

A questionnaire using a paired-comparison procedure to measure preferences for 14 counselor characteristics was administered to 500 students in introductory psychology and business classes at two state universities on the West Coast. A total of 339 usable responses were received from 118 Asian-American students, 64 Mexican-American students, and 157 Caucasian-American students. Rank order preferences for counselor characteristics were almost identical across the three ethnic groups. Preferences for a counselor who had similar attitudes, similar personality, and more education, and was older than the respondent ranked among the top four counselor characteristics for all ethnic groups.