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Title: THE "ROLLING STORE": A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH TO THE PREVENTION OF WEIGHT GAIN IN THE RESIDENTS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA (LMD)

Author
item KENNEDY, BETTY - DELTA NIRI
item RYAN, DONNA - DELTA NIRI
item CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - DELTA NIRI
item HARSHA, DAVID - DELTA NIRI
item NEWTON, ROBERT - DELTA NIRI
item VOLAUFOVA, JULIA - DELTA NIRI
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2004
Publication Date: 6/14/2004
Citation: Kennedy, B., Ryan, D., Champagne, C., Harsha, D., Newton, R., Volaufova, J., Bogle, M. The "Rolling Store": a unique environmental approach to the prevention of weight gain in the residents of the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) [abstract]. Proceedings, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and 8th International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference, June 14, 2004, Boston, Massachusetts. Abstract Number 179.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The LMD is an agricultural region where surveys of residents have demonstrated high levels of obesity and a substantial proportion of the poor rely heavily on convenience stores for food purchases. This was a 6-month pilot study testing the feasibility of the "Rolling Store", a food delivery medium providing healthy food choices (e.g. fruits and vegetables) to prevent weight gain in African American women. It was based on the hypothesis that access to healthy foods may lead to a direct improvement of diet quality and result in prevention of weight gain and/or initiation of weight loss. Forty women (20 per group) were randomly assigned to 1) control- an intervention consisting of healthy eating and physical activity information only, or 2) treatment- 6 monthly group classes on healthy eating and physical activity taught by a peer coordinator, plus weekly shopping on the "Rolling Store." A repeated measures design was used to analyze the data and although the primary purpose of the program was to prevent weight gain, participants in the treatment group lost an average of 1.9 kg (p=0.001), while the control group gained 1.1 kg (p=0.034). According to the Impact of Weight Questionnaire, self-esteem was significant improved in the treatment group (p = 0.04). The "Rolling Store" was feasible, accessible, and economical in producing satisfactory health and behavioral outcomes. This model could easily be adapted on a larger scale, removing geographic and transportation barriers to healthy food choices encountered by underserved populations. Supported by USDA, ARS Project #6251-53000-003-00D.