Introduction: Obesity ranks among the five leading global risk factors for death and substantially contributes to the burden of chronic disease. Local environments profoundly influence dietary patterns, physical activity, exposure to stress, and access to resources that enable or constrain healthy living. Individuals with lower socioeconomic position (SEP) face greater barriers to engaging in obesity-preventing behaviors. Therefore, strengthening community health potential in low-SEP areas is essential for promoting health equity and reducing weight-related inequalities.
Purpose: This study aimed to develop an engaging and empowering participatory procedure for identifying environmental health resources within a local community, examining who uses respective resources, how needed and accessible they are, and how well they match the community needs.
Methods: A total of N=22 participants (local community stakeholders and citizents) were recruited from two adjacent low-SEP city districts (Nadodrze and Ołbin) in Wrocław, Poland. The study employed Photovoice, a participatory qualitative research method. Participants were asked to document local health assets through photography and provide short narratives explaining their choices by describing the location of the asset, its type, and its contribution to the community.
Results: A district map was developed to visualize the spatial distribution of local health assets. Of the 55 photographs, 19 depicted services and institutions, 26 - physical spaces or landscapes, 6 - community groups or associations, 2 - cultural or social events, and 2 presented elements of the local economy. Analysis provided insights into who benefits from each asset, their perceived relevance, and their fit with local needs.
Conclusions: The Photovoice procedure was perceived as engaging and empowering, fostering reflection on community resources which may facilitate obesity prevention. Identifying local assets and assessing their alignment with residents' needs represents a crucial first step toward developing context-sensitive, health- and equity-promoting policies and enhancing community agency in urban health planning.