The BHCK study will develop, implement, and evaluate a community-based obesity prevention program, which operates at multiple levels of an urban food system (policy, wholesaler, corner stores, carryout, household, individual; in Baltimore, MD), and will improve the healthy food supply chain to increase affordability, availability, purchasing and consumption of healthy foods within low-income, minority neighborhoods.
Our overarching goal is to develop and evaluate a community-based obesity prevention program, which operates at multiple levels of an urban food system (policy, wholesaler, corner stores, carryout, household, individual; in Baltimore, MD), and will improve the healthy food supply chain to increase affordability, availability, purchasing and consumption of healthy foods within low-income minority neighborhoods. Our research will include stakeholders/ partners at different levels, e.g., the policy, wholesaler, retailer, adult caregiver, and individual child levels, and then develop, implement, and assess a two year multi-level systems-based child obesity prevention strategy targeting minority and low-income children (predominantly AA). Thirty low-income, predominantly AA geographic zones will be identified ("healthy eating zones"). Half of these zones will be randomized to intervention, while the other half will be control. Within each intervention zone we will work with 3-5 small food stores and prepared food sources to increase access to healthy foods through wholesaler discounts, display point of purchase promotional materials, and provide nutrition and food preparation education targeting youth and caregivers. We will work with local policymakers to institutionalize and sustain these changes. The project will evaluate the impact of the program on: a) healthy food pricing and availability, b) low income African American adult food purchasing and preparation, and c) low-income African American youth diet, and associated psychosocial factors.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
890
Intervention components will occur at the policy level (working within Baltimore City policy makers to sustain intervention components, and develop virtual simulations of the Baltimore food environment); food wholesaler level (working with wholesalers to stock healthier food items and provide pricing incentives to storeowners on healthier foods); small food retail outlet level (working with corner store and carry-out owners to stock, promote, and sell healthier foods and beverages); neighborhood level (working with Baltimore college students to deliver nutrition intervention sessions to younger youth in recreation centers in intervention neighborhoods); household level (providing a text messaging and social media program that provides parents and caregivers tips for healthier eating in their respective neighborhoods).
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Small Retail Food Store - Healthy Food Availability
A food environment checklist (a modified from the NEMS questionnaire) will be conducted before and after the intervention to assess healthy food availability in both intervention and comparison neighborhoods/ stores.
Time frame: Up to 4 years
Household Healthy Food Purchasing
At the adult consumer level, we will use an Adult Impact Questionnaire to examine trends in frequency of purchasing of specific promoted foods pre- and post-intervention. We will score the questionnaire to look at individual food items, as well as at changes in groups of foods developed previously (e.g., healthy and unhealthy food scores, and based on Healthy Eating Index categories).
Time frame: Up to 4 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.