Photovoice Engages Rural Youth in Childhood Obesity Prevention

Photovoice is a participatory action research methodology that involves the use of photography and enables people to document, reflect upon, and communicate community needs to policymakers for the purpose of promoting social change. We describe how photovoice was used to engage rural youth in childhood obesity prevention research and obtain their perspectives of community assets and barriers that influenced children's physical activity and diets in their county. The photographs and stories produced by the youth garnered public interest and were beneficial in raising community awareness of community conditions that may contribute to childhood obesity and the need for environmental change. Utilization of the method also provided a beneficial leadership experience for the youth participants.