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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #175871
Title: A COMMUNITY MODEL TO STUDY DIABETES: MAPPING FOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OUTLETS IN SIX COMMUNITIES.

Author
item Harris, Ellen
item Cotton, Paul
item CUQLOCK-KNOPP, GRAYSON - US ARMY RESEARCH LAB
item GARY VAUGHN, GLADYS - FAMILIES 4H & NUTRITION
item MORRIS, ANDREA - ALABAMA A&M UNIV
item GILES, TAMARA - HOWARD UNIV
item NOWLIN, TIFFANIE - HOWARD UNIV
item SAVIOR, CHERYL - SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE
item THOMAS, LISA - SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE
item HAMPTON, TAMEKA - SOUTHERN UNIV
item WILLIAMS, TIFFANY - SOUTHERN UNIV
item IBRAHIM, SAMIA - TUSKEGEE UNIV
item DORSEY, SYLVIA - UNIV ARKANSAS-PINE BLU

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2005
Publication Date: 9/19/2005
Citation: Harris, E.W., Cotton, P.A., Cuqlock-Knopp, G., Gary Vaughn, G., Morris, A., Giles, T., Nowlin, T., Savior, C., Thomas, L., Hampton, T., Williams, T., Ibrahim, S., Dorsey, S. 2005. A community model to study diabetes: Mapping food and physical activity outlets in six communities. In: Proceedings of the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, September 19-23, 2005, Durban, South Africa. 49(Suppl. 1), Abstract 4.3.13, p. 193.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Communities play a special role for individuals and families affected by diabetes. Community infrastructure and characteristics may influence dietary choices and weight status. For example, research shows that fruit and vegetable intakes increase for each additional supermarket in a census tract. Physical availability of food outlets, as well as types of foods sold, is influenced by neighborhood wealth status. Students from five Historically Black Colleges and Universities and one Native American Tribal College, who attended the 2003 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Summer Institute, helped plan and conduct this study in partnership with USDA and the US Army Research Lab. Phase 1 of the project was to understand the relationship between community environment and the ability to eat healthy and be physically active to prevent diabetes. Findings will be used to develop appropriate community based intervention strategies aimed at diabetes control and prevention. Each university community was defined by ½ mile increments from the main campus until a major grocery store was reached. This distance became the radius for the community boundary, however, geography necessitated revisions to this plan for each site. Opportunities for healthy eating are defined as availability of grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, fast food outlets, vendors, food programs, and farmers markets, and the types of food available through these outlets. Opportunities for physical activity are defined as the availability of parks, public recreational centers, swimming pools, school gyms, presence of sidewalks and bike paths, and the types of physical activity available through these outlets. Study findings were mapped and community profiles were developed. Data added to the USDA Community Nutrition Mapping Project, a web-based GIS application, will be presented.