In June 2016, the Philadelphia City Council passed a 1.5 cents per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Given the tax, the climate for promoting water and discouraging SSB consumption in Philadelphia is ideal for testing interventions that may increase water consumption. Specific aims of this study are to: l) determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive multi-level intervention to increase water access and appeal in community recreation centers on center-level water intake and the purchase of outside SSBs; and 2) determine secondary effects on discarded disposable bottles, use of reusable bottles, and recreation center staff consumption of SSBs. The proposed multi-component intervention will include water safety testing, provision of one to three hydration stations per recreation center, distribution of reusable water bottles for youth, a campaign to promote the acceptability of tap water, and the reduction of access to competing unhealthy beverages through vending machine standards and discouraging outside SSBs. Water flow meters will be installed at 28 recreation centers in low-income, minority neighborhoods to collect objective data on water consumption at each center. Observations of center youth will be used to assess prevalence of outside SSBs and usage of reusable water bottles. Staff SSB consumption will be self reported and discarded disposable bottles will be weighed. Multilevel models will be used for analysis of results.
Studying the Effectiveness of an Intervention to Increase Water Access and Appeal for Underserved Populations Outside School Settings
Start Date: May 2017
ID #: 74395
Principal Investigator: Hannah G. Lawman, PhD
Organization: City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Funding Round: Round 10
Focus Area: Beverages
Age Groups: Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8), Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Adults and Families
Resource Type: Grant Summary
Keywords: Community setting, Neighborhood, Sugar-sweetened beverages, Urban, Vending machines, Water
State: Pennsylvania
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