The objective of The Neighborhood \& Health Study is to use a quasi-experimental mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of living in an agrihood-an agriculturally integrated community. This study follows a longitudinal cohort of residents of a newly developed neighborhood (the Indigo Neighborhood) and a geographically and socio-demographically matched neighborhood (the Elyson Neighborhood), both located in Fort Bend County, Texas, providing a unique opportunity for a natural experiment.
Poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity are prevalent in many communities across the United States. Agriculturally integrated communities called "agrihoods" are a potential responsive agriculture solution that may support healthy living. The aims of the study are to 1) Assess short-term changes in healthy eating, physical activity, cardiometabolic health indicators, and social connectedness as compared to a comparison neighborhood that is not an agriculturally integrated neighborhood; 2) Document time use with features of the Indigo Agrihood and assess consumer preferences for built and nature design features to provide resident-driven data for future developments; 3) Assess the economic benefits of the Indigo Agrihood.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
600
We are examining the effects of individuals who move into an agrihood neighborhood.
Elyson Neighborhood
Katy, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGIndigo Neighborhood
Richmond, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGChange in healthy eating
Healthy eating will be measured by the Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans - 16 items scale. Score ranges from 0 to 16. Higher scores indicate healthy eating patterns.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in physical activity
Physical activity will be measured through calculating moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity (LMVPA), walking, and sedentary behavior using data from an accelerometer worn by participants for 7 days
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in body mass index (BMI)
Height and weight will be measured by research staff and BMI will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in blood pressure
Blood pressure will be measured by research staff using an Omron sphygmomanometer. Measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c will be measured by research staff using a CardioChek Plus machine that measures glucose in their blood. Hemoglobin A1c is measured in milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) of blood.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in social connectedness
Social connectedness will be measured by the Brief Sense of Community Scale. Scores range from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate more social connectedness.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in total physical activity
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Total physical activity (MET-min/wk) will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-long)
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in dermal carotenoids
Dermal carotenoids will be measured by research staff using a Veggie Meter machine, which scans a participant's finger to measure carotenoids or how many fruits and vegetables someone eats. Scores from 0 to 800. Higher scores indicate higher levels of carotenoids.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in lipids
Lipids will be measured by research staff using a CardioChek Plus machine that measures lipids in blood. Triglycerides will be measured in milligrams (mg) of triglycerides per deciliter (dL) of blood. LDL/HDL cholesterol will be measured in milligrams of LDL/HDL cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Total Cholesterol is measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in total HEI score
Total Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score will be calculated from a single 24-hour recall collected via the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24). Score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better diet.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in fruit intake
Total fruit intake (cups/day) will be measured using a LS7 item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in vegetable intake
Total vegetable intake (cups/day) will be measured using a LS7 item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in consumption of whole grains
Whole grain consumption (servings/day) will be assessed using an LS7 item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in fiber intake
Fiber intake (g/day) will be assessed using the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ).
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Met recommendation for fish consumption (y/n)
Whether or not a participant met the recommendation for fish consumption will be assessed using an LS7 item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in frequency of consuming ultra-processed foods
Frequency of ultra-processed foods consumption (times/month) will be assessed using a 9-item questionnaire adapted from the DSQ and the Beverage and Snack Questionnaire (BSQ2).
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in red and processed meat consumption
Total red and processed meat consumption (g/week) will be estimated using the DSQ.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption (drinks/day) will be assessed using a 2-item questionnaire adapted from the Alcohol Use Disorders Screening Test (AUDIT).
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) cardiovascular health score
American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score is a composite of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (physical activity, eating habits, smoking status, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure). Score ranges from 0 to 14. Higher scores indicate better health.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendation adherence score
WCRF/AICR recommendation adherence score is a composite of seven items listed above: BMI, physical activity, fiber intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, processed food consumption, red meat consumption, and alcohol consumption. Scores range from 0 to 7. Higher scores indicate greater adherence to the recommendations.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score
American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score is a composite of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (physical activity, eating habits, smoking status, sleep, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure). Score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in community food environment
The community food environment, including store access and shopping behaviors, will be assessed by two items from the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey. Scores range from 2 to 10. Higher scores indicate a more diverse community food environment
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in perceived stress
Perceived stress will be assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale. Scores range from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate more perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in gardening and fruit and vegetable procurement
Types of gardening and where fruits and vegetables are obtained will be assessed using multiple choice questions.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in sense of community
Sense of community will be assessed using the Collective Efficacy scale. Scores range from 5 to 25. Higher scores indicate greater sense of community.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in nature exposure
Nature exposure will be assessed by modified questions from the People and Nature Survey for England for American audiences. Multiple choice questions assess how much time is spent in nature and what type of natural spaces individuals visit. An additional multiple-choice item from the Nature of Americans survey will be used to identify how much time is spent in nature recreationally and for work in a typical week in hours.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in positive and negative affect
Positive and negative affect will be assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Scores range from 10 to 50 for each positive and negative affect. Higher scores indicate more positive or negative affect.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in (community) social cohesion
Community social cohesion will be assessed by the social cohesion sub-scale of the Mujahid et al. Neighborhood Environment Scale (NES). Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater social cohesion.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in transportation used to utilized food resources
Transportation used to obtain food will be assessed by a single categorical item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in distance to utilized food resources
Distance to utilized food resources will be measured in miles.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in number of utilized food resources
Number of utilized food resources will be measured by a multiple choice item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in transportation used to utilized physical activity resources
Transportation used to access the physical activity resources will be assessed by a single categorical item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in distance to utilized physical activity resources
Distance to utilized physical activity resources will be measured in miles.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in number of utilized physical activity resources
Number of utilized physical activity resources will be measured by a multiple choice item.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in loneliness
Loneliness and social isolation will be assessed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Scores range from 20 to 80. Higher scores indicate more loneliness and social isolation.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in functional health
Functional health will be assessed by the Quality Metric's MOS Short Form - 36 Version 2. 10 items will be used with scores range from 0 to 20. Higher scores indicate higher functional health.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in fruit intake
Total fruit intake (cups/day) will be measured using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in vegetable intake
Total vegetable intake (cups/day) will be measured using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in consumption of whole grains
Whole grain consumption (servings/day) will be assessed using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in fiber intake
Fiber intake (g/day) will be assessed using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in red and processed meat consumption
Total red and processed meat consumption (g/week) will be estimated using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption (drinks/day) will be assessed using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months
Change in frequency of consuming ultra-processed foods
Frequency of ultra-processed foods consumption (times/month) will be assessed using a 24-hour recall.
Time frame: Baseline to 3 & 6 months