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A randomized controlled study of a healthy corner store initiative on the purchases of urban, low‐income youth
Author(s) -
Lent Michelle R.,
Vander Veur Stephanie S.,
McCoy Tara A.,
Wojtanowski Alexis C.,
Sandoval Brianna,
Sherman Sandy,
Komaroff Eugene,
Foster Gary D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.20878
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , psychological intervention , obesity , intervention (counseling) , low income , healthy food , demography , physical therapy , gerontology , environmental health , surgery , food science , nursing , chemistry , socioeconomics , sociology
Objective Although many initiatives exist to improve the availability of healthy foods in corner stores, few randomized trials have assessed their effects. This study evaluated, in a randomized controlled trial, the effects of a first‐generation healthy corner store intervention on students' food and beverage purchases over a 2‐year period. Methods Participants ( n = 767) were fourth‐, fifth‐, and sixth‐grade students. Ten schools and their nearby corner stores ( n = 24) were randomly assigned to the healthy corner store intervention or an assessment‐only control. Intercept surveys directly assessed the nutritional characteristics of students' corner store purchases at baseline, 1 and 2 years. Students' weight and heights were measured at baseline, 1 and 2 years. Results There were no differences in energy content per intercept purchased from control or intervention schools at year 1 ( P = 0.12) or 2 ( P = 0.58). There were no differences between control and intervention students in BMI z score (year 1, P = 0.83; year 2, P = 0. 98) or obesity prevalence (year 1, P = 0.96; year 2, P = 0.58). Conclusions A healthy corner store initiative did not result in significant changes in the energy content of corner store purchases or in continuous or categorical measures of obesity. These data will help to inform future interventions.