Reducing the Risk of Obesity for African-American Youth by Developing a Program to Improve the Food Environment in Baltimore

Start Date: September 2007

ID #: 63149

Principal Investigator: Joel Gittelsohn, PhD, MS

Co-Principal Investigator: Sangita Sharma, PhD

Organization: Johns Hopkins University

Funding Round: Round 2

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This project will evaluate an innovative intervention to change the food environment to reduce obesity risk among low-income urban African American children. Specifically, it will (a) develop, implement and evaluate a program that creates healthy eating zones around selected city schools that will increase the availability of healthy food options and promote them at the point of purchase, and (b) partner with food stores, carryout facilities, youth recreation centers and community organizations to impact children’s food-related psychosocial factors, purchases and diet, and to directly influence caregiver food purchasing.

Age Groups: Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

Race/Ethnicity: African American or Black

Keywords: Community setting, Corner store, Food outlet, Fruits and vegetables, Home, In-store marketing, Point-of-decision prompts, Sugar-sweetened beverages, Urban

Focus Area: Food Access

Resource Type: Grant Summary

State: Maryland

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