B'More Healthy; Communities for Kids (BHCK)
Condition: Obesity
MeSH terms: Obesity
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The BHCK study will develop, implement, and evaluate a community-based obesity prevention
      program, which operates at multiple levels of an urban food system (policy, wholesaler,
      corner stores, carryout, household, individual; in Baltimore, MD), and will improve the
      healthy food supply chain to increase affordability, availability, purchasing and consumption
      of healthy foods within low-income, minority neighborhoods.
    

Detailed description: 
      Our overarching goal is to develop and evaluate a community-based obesity prevention program,
      which operates at multiple levels of an urban food system (policy, wholesaler, corner stores,
      carryout, household, individual; in Baltimore, MD), and will improve the healthy food supply
      chain to increase affordability, availability, purchasing and consumption of healthy foods
      within low-income minority neighborhoods. Our research will include stakeholders/ partners at
      different levels, e.g., the policy, wholesaler, retailer, adult caregiver, and individual
      child levels, and then develop, implement, and assess a two year multi-level systems-based
      child obesity prevention strategy targeting minority and low-income children (predominantly
      AA). Thirty low-income, predominantly AA geographic zones will be identified ("healthy eating
      zones"). Half of these zones will be randomized to intervention, while the other half will be
      control. Within each intervention zone we will work with 3-5 small food stores and prepared
      food sources to increase access to healthy foods through wholesaler discounts, display point
      of purchase promotional materials, and provide nutrition and food preparation education
      targeting youth and caregivers. We will work with local policymakers to institutionalize and
      sustain these changes.

      The project will evaluate the impact of the program on: a) healthy food pricing and
      availability, b) low income African American adult food purchasing and preparation, and c)
      low-income African American youth diet, and associated psychosocial factors.
    

Intervention name(s): Intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Intervention components will occur at the policy level (working within Baltimore City policy makers to sustain intervention components, and develop virtual simulations of the Baltimore food environment); food wholesaler level (working with wholesalers to stock healthier food items and provide pricing incentives to storeowners on healthier foods); small food retail outlet level (working with corner store and carry-out owners to stock, promote, and sell healthier foods and beverages); neighborhood level (working with Baltimore college students to deliver nutrition intervention sessions to younger youth in recreation centers in intervention neighborhoods); household level (providing a text messaging and social media program that provides parents and caregivers tips for healthier eating in their respective neighborhoods).
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: African American; Adolescents; Urban; Food Desert; Food Insecurity; Obesity; Baltimore City; Peer mentors; Multi level; Policy; Caregivers; Systems; Agent Based Model; Systems Dynamic Model; Corner Store; Carryout; Recreation Center; Text Messaging; Social Media; Mapping