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Title: "The Rolling Store" An economical and environmental approach to the prevention of weight gain in African American women.

Author
item KENNEDY, BETTY - PENNINGTON BRC
item CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - PENNINGTON BRC
item RYAN, DONNA - PENNINGTON BRC
item NEWTON JR, ROBERT - PENNINGTON BRC
item CONISH, BEVERLY - PENNINGTON BRC
item HARSHA, DAVID - PENNINGTON BRC
item LEVY, ERMA - PENNINGTON BRC
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Ethnicity and Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2008
Publication Date: 1/4/2009
Citation: Kennedy, B.M., Champagne, C.M., Ryan, D.H., Newton Jr, R., Conish, B.K., Harsha, D.W., Levy, E.J., Bogle, M.L. 2009. "The Rolling Store" An economical and environmental approach to the prevention of weight gain in African American women. Ethnicity and Disease. 19(1):7-12.

Interpretive Summary: The objective of the study was to test the feasibility of the "Rolling Store", an innovative food delivery medium to provide healthy food choices (fruits and vegetables) to prevent weight gain in African American women. The "Rolling Store" was feasible, accessible, and economical in producing satisfactory health and behavioral outcomes. The "Rolling Store" model could easily be adapted on a larger scale; removing geographical and transportation barriers to healthy food choices encountered by poor and underserved populations.

Technical Abstract: The objective was to test the feasibility of the "Rolling Store," an innovative food delivery medium to provide healthy food choices (fruits and vegetables) to prevent weight gain in African American women. A randomized trial design was used in the study. Eligible participants from the community were randomized into two groups:1)Control Group--recieved healthy eating and physical activity information monthly, and 2)Treatment Group--recieved monthly classes on healthy eating and physical activity taught by a peer educator, plus weekly visits to the "Rolling Store." Forty African American women were enrolled in the study. A trained peer educator, and "Rolling Store" operator conducted the study. The program retention rate was 93 percent. After six months, participants in the treatment group lost a small but significant amount of weight 2.0kg (p<0.0009), while participants in the control group gained 1.1kg of weight. In the treatment group, the average self-esteem significantly improved (p=.0310), as did role emotional (p=.0446), and the average number of servings/day of vegetable and fruit/fruit juice consumption significantly improved at 6 months (p=0.0003 and p<.0001) respectively. The "Rolling Store" was feasible, accessible, and economical in producing satisfactory health and behavioral outcomes. The "Rolling Store" model could easily be adapted on a larger scale; removing geographical and transportation barriers to healthy food choices encountered by poor and underserved populations.