An Urban Food Store Intervention Positively Affects Food-Related Psychosocial Variables and Food Behaviors

Abstract

Obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases are more prevalent in low-income urban areas, which commonly have limited access to healthy foods. The authors implemented an intervention trial in nine food stores, including two supermarkets and seven corner stores, in a low-income, predominantly African American area of Baltimore City, with a comparison group of eight stores in another low-income area of the city. The intervention (Baltimore Healthy Stores; BHS) included an environmental component to increase stocks of more nutritious foods and provided point-of-purchase promotions including signage for healthy choices and interactive nutrition education sessions. Using pre- and postassessments, the authors evaluated the impact of the program on 84 respondents sampled from the intervention and comparison areas. Exposure to intervention materials was modest in the intervention area, and overall healthy food purchasing scores, food knowledge, and self-efficacy did not show significant improvements associated with intervention status. However, based on adjusted multivariate regression results, the BHS program had a positive impact on healthfulness of food preparation methods and showed a trend toward improved intentions to make healthy food choices. Respondents in the intervention areas were significantly more likely to report purchasing promoted foods because of the presence of a BHS shelf label. This is the first food store intervention trial in low-income urban communities to show positive impacts at the consumer level.

Food insecurity and household eating patterns among vulnerable American-Indian families: associations with caregiver and food consumption characteristics

“…High levels of consumption of convenience store foods in this sample also warrant exploration of store-based interventions. Programmes including prioritization of shelf space, stocking of fresh produce and product signage/labelling have been shown to hold promise in increasing the purchase and consumption of healthy foods (43,44) . Specific to utilization of food banks, a number of challenges were identified that should be taken into consideration in future programmes and policies on reservations.…”

Working With Community Partners to Implement and Evaluate the Chicago Park District’s 100% Healthier Snack Vending Initiative

“…Such interventions include expanding farmers markets (1), increasing fresh food inventory in small stores (2,3), financing programs to support full-service groceries in underserved communities (4), and initiating healthy vending machine programs (5)(6)(7). Most healthful food interventions focus on school and community settings.…”

Desenvolvimento e validação de instrumento para avaliar o impacto de um programa de intervenção em comércios de alimentos em área de deserto alimentar/Development and validity of an instrument to evaluate the impact of an intervention in food stores at an urban food desert

“…Estudos demonstraram efetividade em suas ações no que diz respeito ao aumento da disponibilidade de alimentos saudáveis e mudanças em fatores psicossociais de consumidores e proprietários de comér-cio, com o aumento na venda de alimentos saudáveis (SONG et al, 2009) e aumento do lucro dos comerciantes com a venda de alimentos saudáveis (AYALA et al, 2012). Efeitos positivos nos parâmetros psicossociais dos comerciantes como aumento da autoeficácia em relação à comercialização e estocagem de alimentos saudáveis (SONG et al, 2009), e também nos dos clientes expostos a intervenção, como aumento de intenções de compras de alimentos saudáveis (GITTELSOHN et al, 2013) e melhora na autoeficácia em cozinhar alimentos saudáveis também foram observados (GITTELSOHN et al, 2010).…”