Studying the Novel Approach of Using Electronic Health Records From Pediatric Primary Care to Measure Children’s Consumption of Sugary Beverages

Electronic health record (EHR) screening for sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake may be a novel intervention for reducing SSB intake in children, and would result in longitudinal databases of individual-level consumption that could enhance the ability the evaluate local or regional SSB policies. This study aims to: 1) implement and evaluate the uptake of a single More

Examining the Degree of Implementation of Healthy Beverage Policies in Child-Care Programs in Georgia to Inform Health Promotion

Increasing access to water and other healthy beverages and reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are viable strategies to prevent childhood obesity. In 2014, Georgia (GA) added beverage provisions to child-care licensing regulation. This study will examine the extent to which beverage policies are implemented. The specific aims of this project are to: 1) assess the More

Examining the Reach and Impact of California Legislation to Promote Healthy Eating in Out-of-School-Time Programs

In 2014, California became the first state to authorize an out-of-school-time (OST) health promotion program. The Distinguished After School Health (DASH) program awards a 2-year certificate to OST programs that implement its nutrition and physical activity standards. RTI is partnering with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to More

Studying the Impact of Food Reformulation on Child and Adolescent Obesity and What Motivates Manufacturers to Reformulate Foods

Improvements in the healthiness of packaged foods and beverages consumed by children and adolescents could have an impact on obesity through improved dietary intake patterns. Food manufacturers have new incentives to reformulate foods in response to changes in the Nutrition Facts label (NFL) and serving sizes scheduled to go into effect in 2018. The overall More

Examining Bottled-Water Restrictions and Environmental Concerns as an Opportunity to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption Among Children and Adults

Policies that restrict bottled water sales for environmental and sustainability purposes, and policies that increase access to bottled water to reduce sugary drink access, may be working at cross-purposes to the detriment of the environment and the public’s health. This study will explore policies that restrict the use of bottled water and describe opportunities presented More

Conducting Research to Promote Healthy Weight Gain During Children’s First 1,000 Days, Particularly Among Disproportionately Burdened Populations

The first 1,000 days describes the period from pre-pregnancy through age 2 years, and is increasingly recognized as a critical period for development of childhood obesity. The overall goal of this study is to develop and refine health messaging for future interventions among families living in Washington Heights, a low-income New York City neighborhood with More

Testing Drinking Water in California Public Schools for Lead and Other Contaminants in the Context of an Obesity-Prevention Strategy

Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages is an important obesity prevention strategy. Although schools have taken great strides to improve drinking water access, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and its aftermath have highlighted the importance of assuring that the water provided in schools is safe to drink. This study will partner with national experts More

Examining Home-Visiting Strategies to Prevent Obesity Among American Indians, Focusing on Early Childhood Outcomes and Water Insecurity

Reservation-based American Indian (AI) children suffer the highest rates of childhood obesity in the United States. This project will provide evidence to support the integration of childhood obesity prevention modules into government-funded home-visiting programs. It will also identify the role of water insecurity in sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake. The specific aims of the study are More

Using State Laws & Regulations to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Afterschool Programs

Out-of-School time (OST) programs are a promising setting for reducing child obesity risk by promoting healthy eating and providing opportunities for physical activity. The Healthy Out-of-School Time Coalition developed the National AfterSchool Association Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards in 2011 to provide comprehensive guidance on how to promote healthy eating and physical activity. To More

The Influence of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warnings: A Randomized Trial of Adolescents’ Choices and Beliefs

California, New York, and the cities of San Francisco and Baltimore have introduced bills requiring health-related warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages. This study measured the extent to which these warning labels influence adolescents’ beliefs and hypothetical choices. Over 2,000 adolescents ages 12-18 completed an online survey in which they chose a beverage in a hypothetical More