Skip to Main Content
Florida International University

Search

Menu

Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Homepage
  • Give
  • Contact us
  • Apply
    • Working together for the greater good

      Stempel College inspires groundbreaking research and education through an academic environment that influences policy and promotes healthy living in communities near and far.

      Learn more about Stempel College
      • Message from the Dean
        Welcome from Tomás R. Guilarte, the dean of Stempel College.
      • Mission & Values
        We are committed to making positive change in local and global communities.
      • Ranking & Facts
        Celebrate our highly-rated programs and top research funding among public universities.
      • Accreditation
        Our programs meet national accreditation standards.
      Looking for someone?

      See the members of Stempel College who elevate our programs, research and administration.

      View Faculty & Staff Directory

    • Schools
      • Public Health
      • Social Work
      • International Disaster Preparedness
      Departments
      • Biostatistics
      • Dietetics & Nutrition
      • Environmental Health Sciences
      • Epidemiology
      • Global Health
      • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
      • Online MPH Generalist
      Program Finder

      Start the next step of your education with one of Stempel College's degrees and programs taught by world-renowned faculty.

      Explore Degrees & Programs

    • Survival Guides
      • Current
      • Prospective
      • International
      Useful Links
      • Funding your Education
      • Housing
      • Advising
      • Career & Professional Development
      Study Abroad

      At Stempel College, students may have opportunities to conduct research or participate in other educational opportunities abroad.

      View International Experiences

    • Research at Stempel College

      Our college's research extends beyond South Florida, embracing global populations as major public health issues and social welfare problems continue to affect the world.

      See our focus and impact

      Laboratories

      Stempel College's nationally renowned laboratories are finding solutions to fundamental issues faced by local and global populations.

      View Laboratories

      Affiliated Research Centers

      These collaborative hubs serve as epicenters of groundbreaking research into complex challenges in health.

      View Affiliated Research Centers

    • Resource Portal

      Our Faculty & Staff Resources portal is a one-stop shop for everything members of Stempel College might need.

      Explore resources

      Quick Links
      • Operations Manual
      • Payroll Calendars and Schedules
      Faculty & Staff Directory

      See the members of Stempel College who elevate our programs, research and administration.

      View Directory

    • Upcoming Events

      Stempel College hosts both annual and periodic events for students, alumni, faculty and staff.

      View upcoming news and events

      Stempel Stories

      Read about the college's latest developments, from national rankings to student and faculty achievements.

      View Stempel Stories

      Stay up to date

      Get the latest Stempel College news delivered directly to your email inbox.

      Subscribe to Stempel Stories

Close
  • Home
    • Overview
    • Rankings & Facts
    • Accreditation
    • Message from the Dean
    • Mission & Vision
    • Overview
    • Degrees & Programs
    • Public Health
    • School of Social Work
    • Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
    • Academy for International Disaster Preparedness
    • Overview
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Students
    • International Experiences
    • Careers
    • Overview
    • Emerging Preeminent Programs
    • Affiliated Research Centers
    • Laboratories
    • Faculty & Staff Directory
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Overview
    • Career Fair
    • Stempel Stories
  • Give
  • Contact us
  • Apply
Close
Search this website
Quick Links
  • Phonebook
  • Parking & Transportation
  • Wellness & Recreation Centers
  • Campus Maps
  • Libraries
  • Wi-Fi/Internet Access
  • University Calendar
  • Dining & Shopping
  • Course Catalog
  • FIU Police
  • Bookstore
  • A to Z Index
Resources
  • Future Students & Parents
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • News & Events
  • Overview
  • Career Fair
  • Stempel Stories
  • More
    • Loading...
Post Thumbnail
 Stempel Stories
Dietetics and Nutrition

An FIU Ph.D. student’s quest to understand the effectiveness of national obesity prevention strategies in Colombia

September 27, 2024 | By Thaniuska Vivas

With obesity cases on the rise in Latin America, Gabriela Proaño Caicedo, an FIU dietetics and nutrition PhD candidate, set out to research the contributing factors. Guided by her advisor Cristina Palacios, PhD, chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition, along with Rajiv Chowdhury, PhD, chair and professor of global health, and Carlos Espinal, MD, director of the Global Health Consortium, Proaño Caicedo conducted a study on the effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators of overweight and obesity prevention strategies in Colombia.

As part of the project, the researchers, in collaboration with partners at the Universidad de los Andes, carried out interviews with stakeholders like representatives from Colombian government agencies and NGOs. Their findings emphasized the connection between public policy and health outcomes, highlighting the challenges many communities face in implementing overweight and obesity prevention programs. Many of the interview participants reported that insufficient resources and lack of political will can inhibit program success, negatively impacting obesity rates in Colombia.

The results were published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas and presented at the American Society of Nutrition conference in Boston, MA, and the Latin American Nutrition Congress in Cuenca, Ecuador. In Spring ’24, Proaño Caicedo, in recognition of her work, received the UGS Excellence Award for Outstanding Paper or Manuscript.

gabriela-and-cristina.jpg

PhD Candidate Gabriel Proaño Caicedo with her advisor Cristina Palacios, PhD,
chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition at the Universided de los Andes in Colombia

Proaño Caicedo shares more about the study and what they found in the following Q&A.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the research you conducted.

Proaño Caicedo: The manuscript was a mixed methods research project that included a scoping review of the literature available on national obesity prevention strategies in Colombia, as well as interviews with several stakeholders that were involved in the implementation and evaluation of obesity prevention strategies, including physical activity programs, school lunch program, etc. The goal was to gather evidence on the effectiveness of these programs and be able to provide suggestions for future research done in this area.

Q: What were some of the key findings?

Proaño Caicedo: From the literature, we saw that an obesogenic environment, such as having a lack of access to healthy foods or safe environments to be physically active, can negatively impact an obesity prevention program, while having community engagement and flexibility around the program (e.g., accommodating participant schedules with various sessions or virtual options) can improve program success. In the interviews, the main barriers included political issues, insufficient resources, and lack of coordination between organizations and systems. Overall, this research highlights the need for more multisectoral approaches and collaborations to ensure sufficient support is provided to these programs and improves their effectiveness and sustainability.

Q: Was there anything that stood out?

Proaño Caicedo: That the main barriers to obesity prevention programs were political. These included corruption, lack of political will, and a lack of evaluation/access to the evaluations of these programs. These issues can be incredibly complex, but it is important to discuss them as they can significantly impact both the programs and the populations they serve.

Q: How do you envision your research contributing to advancements within the field of dietetics and nutrition?

Proaño Caicedo: I hope that this research encourages a more thorough investigation of specific obesity prevention strategies, and that it informs future programs not just in Colombia but also in other countries. It is important to not only conduct these evaluations but also transparently publish and disseminate them so that these learnings are shared. Doing so can help improve programs that support obesity prevention and improve nutrition and health outcomes.

“I hope that this research encourages a more thorough investigation of specific obesity prevention strategies, and that it informs future programs not just in Colombia but also in other countries.” - Dietetics and Nutrition PhD candidate Gabriela Proaño Caicedo

Share Post

Choose how to show this post:

Related Posts

About Stempel College

Stempel College’s unique location at the crossroads of the Americas in Miami, Fla., positions us to address complex challenges that impact our communities.

Quick Links

Apply
Faculty & Staff Directory
Research
Students
Degrees & Programs
Subscribe to our newsletter
Give

Contact

Stempel College
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street AHC5
Miami, FL 33199
305-348-4903
stempel@fiu.edu

Florida International University Homepage

Connect

  • Contact FIU
  • FIU News

Explore FIU

  • About FIU
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Locations
  • Research
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • Alumni and Giving
  • Careers at FIU
  • Estimate Cost of Attendance

Tools & Resources

  • Phonebook (Directory)
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Maps
  • MyFIU
  • Canvas
  • FIU Email
  • System Status
  • Reserve Space
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Title IX
  • Report Discrimination or Harassment

© 2025 Florida International University | Website by Digital Communications | Website Feedback | Web/Accessibility | Sitemap