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Huangfu P, Pearson F, Abu-Hijleh FM, Wahlich C, Willis K, Awad SF, Abu-Raddad LJ, Critchley JA. Impact of price reductions, subsidies, or financial incentives on healthy food purchases and consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Planet Health 2024; 8:e197-e212. [PMID: 38453385 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00004-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Poor diets are a global concern and are linked with various adverse health outcomes. Healthier foods such as fruit and vegetables are often more expensive than unhealthy options. This study aimed to assess the effect of price reductions for healthy food (including fruit and vegetables) on diet. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies that looked at the effects of financial incentives on healthy food. Main outcomes were change in purchase and consumption of foods following a targeted price reduction. We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EconLit, Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science), citations, and used reference screening to identify relevant studies from Jan 1, 2013, to Dec 20, 2021, without language restrictions. We stratified results by population targeted (low-income populations vs general population), the food group that the reduction was applied to (fruit and vegetables, or other healthier foods), and study design. Percentage price reduction was standardised to assess the effect in meta-analyses. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. 34 studies were eligible; 15 took place in supermarkets and eight took place in workplace canteens in high-income countries, and 21 were targeted at socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Pooled analyses of 14 studies showed a price reduction of 20% resulted in increases in fruit and vegetable purchases by 16·62% (95% CI 12·32 to 20·91). Few studies had maintained the price reduction for over 6 months. In conclusion, price reductions can lead to increases in purchases of fruit and vegetables, potentially sufficient to generate health benefits, if sustained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijue Huangfu
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Fiona Pearson
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Farah Marwan Abu-Hijleh
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health Quality Office, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Charlotte Wahlich
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Kathryn Willis
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Susanne F Awad
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laith J Abu-Raddad
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia A Critchley
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
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Stuber JM, Mackenbach JD, de Bruijn GJ, Gillebaart M, Hoenink JC, Middel CNH, de Ridder DTD, van der Schouw YT, Smit EG, Velema E, Vos AL, Waterlander WE, Lakerveld J, Beulens JWJ. Real-world nudging, pricing, and mobile physical activity coaching was insufficient to improve lifestyle behaviours and cardiometabolic health: the Supreme Nudge parallel cluster-randomised controlled supermarket trial. BMC Med 2024; 22:52. [PMID: 38303069 PMCID: PMC10835818 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03268-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Context-specific interventions may contribute to sustained behaviour change and improved health outcomes. We evaluated the real-world effects of supermarket nudging and pricing strategies and mobile physical activity coaching on diet quality, food-purchasing behaviour, walking behaviour, and cardiometabolic risk markers. METHODS This parallel cluster-randomised controlled trial included supermarkets in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods across the Netherlands with regular shoppers aged 30-80 years. Supermarkets were randomised to receive co-created nudging and pricing strategies promoting healthier purchasing (N = 6) or not (N = 6). Nudges targeted 9% of supermarket products and pricing strategies 3%. Subsequently, participants were individually randomised to a control (step counter app) or intervention arm (step counter and mobile coaching app) to promote walking. The primary outcome was the average change in diet quality (low (0) to high (150)) over all follow-up time points measured with a validated 40-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included healthier food purchasing (loyalty card-derived), daily step count (step counter app), cardiometabolic risk markers (lipid profile and HbA1c via finger prick, and waist circumference via measuring tape), and supermarket customer satisfaction (questionnaire-based: very unsatisfied (1) to very satisfied (7)), evaluated using linear mixed-models. Healthy supermarket sales (an exploratory outcome) were analysed via controlled interrupted time series analyses. RESULTS Of 361 participants (162 intervention, 199 control), 73% were female, the average age was 58 (SD 11) years, and 42% were highly educated. Compared to the control arm, the intervention arm showed no statistically significant average changes over time in diet quality (β - 1.1 (95% CI - 3.8 to 1.7)), percentage healthy purchasing (β 0.7 ( - 2.7 to 4.0)), step count (β - 124.0 (- 723.1 to 475.1), or any of the cardiometabolic risk markers. Participants in the intervention arm scored 0.3 points (0.1 to 0.5) higher on customer satisfaction on average over time. Supermarket-level sales were unaffected (β - 0.0 (- 0.0 to 0.0)). CONCLUSIONS Co-created nudging and pricing strategies that predominantly targeted healthy products via nudges were unable to increase healthier food purchases and intake nor improve cardiometabolic health. The mobile coaching intervention did not affect step count. Governmental policy measures are needed to ensure more impactful supermarket modifications that promote healthier purchases. TRIAL REGISTRATION Dutch Trial Register ID NL7064, 30 May 2018, https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/20990.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josine M Stuber
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Joreintje D Mackenbach
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan de Bruijn
- Department of Communication Science, University of Antwerp, St-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marleen Gillebaart
- Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jody C Hoenink
- Centre for Diet and Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Cédric N H Middel
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Denise T D de Ridder
- Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne T van der Schouw
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Edith G Smit
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Velema
- Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), Bezuidenhoutseweg 105, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Anne L Vos
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wilma E Waterlander
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Lakerveld
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joline W J Beulens
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Duh-Leong C, Ortiz R, Messito MJ, Katzow MW, Kim CN, Teli R, Gross RS. Household Food Insecurity and Maternal-Toddler Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Concordance. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2024; 56:100-109. [PMID: 38142387 PMCID: PMC10922249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether prenatal or concurrent household food insecurity influences associations between maternal and toddler fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. DESIGN Application of a life-course framework to an analysis of a longitudinal dataset. SETTING Early childhood obesity prevention program at a New York City public hospital. PARTICIPANTS One-hundred and fifty-six maternal-toddler dyads self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino. VARIABLES MEASURED Maternal and toddler FV intake was measured using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dietary measures when toddlers were aged 19 months. Household food insecurity (measured prenatally and concurrently at 19 months) was measured using the US Department of Agriculture Food Security Module. ANALYSIS Regression analyses assessed associations between adequate maternal FV intake and toddler FV intake. Interaction terms tested whether prenatal or concurrent household food insecurity moderated this association. RESULTS Adequate maternal FV intake was associated with increased toddler FV intake (B = 6.2 times/wk, 95% confidence interval, 2.0-10.5, P = 0.004). Prenatal household food insecurity was associated with decreased toddler FV intake (B = -6.3 times/wk, 95% confidence interval, -11.67 to -0.9, P = 0.02). There was a significant interaction between the level of maternal-toddler FV association (concordance or similarity in FV intake between mothers and toddlers) and the presence of food insecurity such that maternal-toddler FV association was greater when prenatal household food insecurity was not present (B = -11.6, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Strategies to increase FV intake across the life course could examine how the timing of household food insecurity may affect intergenerational maternal-child transmission of dietary practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Duh-Leong
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY.
| | - Robin Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Mary Jo Messito
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Michelle W Katzow
- Department of Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY
| | - Christina N Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Radhika Teli
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Rachel S Gross
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Parks CA, Mitchell E, Byker Shanks C, Budd Nugent N, Reynolds M, Sun K, Zhang N, Yaroch AL. Which Program Implementation Factors Lead to more Fruit and Vegetable Purchases? An Exploratory Analysis of Nutrition Incentive Programs across the United States. Curr Dev Nutr 2023; 7:102040. [PMID: 38130331 PMCID: PMC10733675 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.102040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nutrition incentive (NI) programs help low-income households better afford fruits and vegetables (FVs) by providing incentives to spend on FVs (e.g., spend $10 to receive an additional $10 for FVs). NI programs are heterogeneous in programmatic implementation and operate in food retail outlets, including brick-and-mortar and farm-direct sites. Objective This study aimed to explore NI program implementation factors and the amount of incentives redeemed. Methods A total of 28 NI projects across the United States including 487 brick-and-mortar and 1078 farm-direct sites reported data between 2020 and 2021. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses (outcome: incentives redeemed) were applied. Results Traditional brick-and-mortar stores had 0.48 times the incentives redeemed compared with small brick-and-mortar stores. At brick-and-mortar sites, automatic discounts had 3.47 times the incentives redeemed compared with physical discounts; and auxiliary services and marketing led to greater redemption. Farm-direct sites using multilingual and direct promotional marketing had greater incentives redeemed. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first national study to focus on NI program implementation across sites nationwide. Factors identified can help inform future programming and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elise Mitchell
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE United States
| | | | | | - Megan Reynolds
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE United States
| | - Kiki Sun
- Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nanhua Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Amy L Yaroch
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE United States
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Grummon AH, Petimar J, Moran AJ, Anderson E, Lurie P, John S, Rimm EB, Thorndike AN. Effects of in-store marketing on food and beverage purchases: a longitudinal study of households with children. Public Health Nutr 2023; 27:e4. [PMID: 38037704 PMCID: PMC10830370 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023002641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most food retailers display foods in prominent locations as a marketing strategy (i.e. 'placement promotions'). We examined the extent to which households with children change their food and beverage purchases in response to these promotions. DESIGN We analysed a novel dataset of all products promoted in two supermarkets from 2016 to 2017, including promotion dates and locations (e.g. aisle endcaps and front registers). We linked promotions to all purchases from the supermarkets from 2016 to 2017 by a cohort of households with children. We calculated the number of weekly promotions in each of thirteen food and beverage groups (e.g. bread; candy) and used fixed effects regressions to estimate associations between number of weekly promotions and households' weekly food purchases, overall and by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation. SETTING Two large supermarkets in Maine, USA. PARTICIPANTS Eight hundred and twenty-one households with children. RESULTS Most promotions (74 %) were for less healthy foods. The most promoted food groups were sweet and salty snacks (mean = 131·0 promotions/week), baked goods (mean = 68·2) and sugar-sweetened beverages (mean = 41·6). Households generally did not change their food group purchases during weeks when they were exposed to more promotions for those groups, except that a 1-sd increase in endcap candy promotions (about 1 promotion/week) was associated with $0·19/week (about 14·5 %) increase in candy purchases among SNAP nonparticipants (adjusted P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS In-store placement promotions for food groups were generally not associated with purchases of promoted food groups, perhaps because exposure to unhealthy food marketing was consistently high. Substantial changes to in-store food marketing may be needed to promote healthier purchases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304, USA
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Petimar
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emma Anderson
- Department of Population Health Management, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, USA
| | - Peter Lurie
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, USA
| | - Sara John
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, USA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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John S, Melendrez B, Leng K, Nelms A, Seligman H, Krieger J. Advancing Equity in the Farm Bill: Opportunities for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). Nutrients 2023; 15:4863. [PMID: 38068722 PMCID: PMC10707921 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) is a federally funded grant program that provides nutrition incentives-subsidies for purchasing fruits and vegetables (FV)-to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. GusNIP currently advances nutrition equity by improving FV access for people with low incomes, yet inequities exist within GusNIP. We sought to identify inequities in GusNIP at the community, organization, partner, and individual levels and develop recommendations for farm bill provisions to make the program more equitable. In Spring 2021, a group of nutrition incentive experts (n = 11) from across the country convened to discuss opportunities to enhance equity in GusNIP. The iterative recommendation development process included feedback from key stakeholders (n = 15) and focus group participants with GusNIP lived experience (n = 12). Eleven recommendations to advance equity in GusNIP in the farm bill emerged across six categories: (1) increase total GusNIP funding, (2) increase funding and support to lower-resourced organizations and impacted communities, (3) eliminate the match requirement, (4) support statewide expansion, (5) expand and diversify retailer participation, and (6) expand program marketing. Including these recommendations in the upcoming and future farm bills would equitably expand GusNIP for SNAP participants, program grantees, and communities across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara John
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC 20005, USA;
| | - Blanca Melendrez
- Center for Community Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Kirsten Leng
- Healthy Food America, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (K.L.); or (J.K.)
| | - Amy Nelms
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC 20005, USA;
| | - Hilary Seligman
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
| | - James Krieger
- Healthy Food America, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (K.L.); or (J.K.)
- School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Lofton S, Martin A, Kersten M, Lubimbi N, Vilme H, Avorgbedor F, Odoms-Young A. Understanding Barriers and Strategies to Accessing Healthy Food in Urban Agriculture for Community Residents in Predominantly Black Communities. COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & POLICY 2023:2752535X231214844. [PMID: 37948604 DOI: 10.1177/2752535x231214844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some residents in predominantly Black communities face significant challenges in accessing healthy food. However, urban agriculture is a growing sector that aims to increase overall food production, access to affordable and nutritious produce, and potentially improve community food security. PURPOSE This study aimed to provide insight into barriers and strategies that urban agriculture growers and advocates identified for accessing urban agriculture markets in their communities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE We interviewed and conducted focus groups with 17 urban growers and local food advocates that work in predominantly Black communities in Chicago. DATA COLLECTION AND/OR ANALYSIS Understanding the complexities of access to healthy food can be challenging; therefore, we used the concept of access - accessibility, availability, affordability, accommodation, and acceptability - to better understand these barriers. RESULTS Key barriers were the lack of accessibility to traditional food retailers, high availability of processed foods, and cultural acceptability of urban-produced foods. CONCLUSION Building urban agriculture networks to support growers, connect with consumers, and emphasize political engagement can help to diversify and grow urban agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saria Lofton
- College of Nursing, Population Health Science Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Marjorie Kersten
- College of Nursing, Population Health Science Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nanyombi Lubimbi
- College of Nursing, Population Health Science Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Thomas M, Moore JB, Onuselogu DA, Dalton A, Rains T, Lowry E, Sritharan N, Morris MA. Supermarket top-up of Healthy Start vouchers increases fruit and vegetable purchases in low-income households. NUTR BULL 2023; 48:353-364. [PMID: 37501220 DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Stark, widening health and income inequalities in the United Kingdom underpin the need for increased support for low-income families to access affordable and nutritious foods. Using anonymised supermarket loyalty card transaction records, this study aimed to assess how an additional Healthy Start voucher (HSV) top-up of £2, redeemable only against fruit and vegetables (FVs), was associated with FV purchases among at-risk households. Transaction and redemption records from 150 loyalty card-holding households, living in northern England, who had engaged with the top-up scheme, were analysed to assess the potential overall population impact. Using a pre-post study design, 133 of these households' records from 2021 were compared with equivalent time periods in 2019 and 2020. Records were linked to product, customer and store data, permitting comparisons using Wilcoxon matched-pairs sign-ranked tests and relationships assessed with Spearman's Rho. These analyses demonstrated that 0.9 more portions of FV per day per household were purchased during the scheme compared to the 2019 baseline (p = 0.0017). The percentage of FV weight within total baskets also increased by 1.6 percentage points (p = 0.0242), although the proportional spend on FV did not change. During the scheme period, FV purchased was higher by 0.4 percentage points (p = 0.0012) and 1.6 percentage points (p = 0.0062) according to spend and weight, respectively, in top-up redeeming baskets compared to non-top-up redeeming baskets with at least one FV item and was associated with 5.5 more HSV 'Suggested' FV portions (p < 0.0001). The median weight of FV purchased increased from 41.83 kg in 2019 to 54.14 kg in 2021 (p = 0.0017). However, top-up vouchers were only redeemed on 9.1% of occasions where FV were purchased. In summary, this study provides novel data showing that safeguarding funds exclusively for FV can help to increase access to FV in low-income households. These results yield important insights to inform public policy aimed at levelling up health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Thomas
- School of Food Sciences and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Alexandra Dalton
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | | | - Michelle A Morris
- School of Food Sciences and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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9
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Alawode O, Humble S, Herrick CJ. Food insecurity, SNAP participation and glycemic control in low-income adults with predominantly type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis using NHANES 2007-2018 data. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2023; 11:e003205. [PMID: 37220963 PMCID: PMC10230897 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-003205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diabetes, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, affects 13% of US adults, 95% of whom have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Social determinants of health (SDoH), such as food insecurity, are integral to glycemic control. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aims to reduce food insecurity, but it is not clear how this affects glycemic control in T2D. This study investigated the associations between food insecurity and other SDoH and glycemic control and the role of SNAP participation in a national socioeconomically disadvantaged sample. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Adults with likely T2D and income <185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were identified using cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2007-2018). Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between food insecurity, SNAP participation and glycemic control (defined by HbA1c 7.0%-8.5% depending on age and comorbidities). Covariates included demographic factors, clinical comorbidities, diabetes management strategies, and healthcare access and utilization. RESULTS The study population included 2084 individuals (90% >40 years of age, 55% female, 18% non-Hispanic black, 25% Hispanic, 41% SNAP participants, 36% low or very low food security). Food insecurity was not associated with glycemic control in the adjusted model (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.181 (0.877-1.589)), and SNAP participation did not modify the effect of food insecurity on glycemic control. Insulin use, lack of health insurance, and Hispanic or another race and ethnicity were among the strongest associations with poor glycemic control in the adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS For low-income individuals with T2D in the USA, health insurance may be among the most critical predictors of glycemic control. Additionally, SDoH associated with race and ethnicity plays an important role. SNAP participation may not affect glycemic control because of inadequate benefit amounts or lack of incentives for healthy purchases. These findings have implications for community engaged interventions and healthcare and food policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatobi Alawode
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sarah Humble
- Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Cynthia J Herrick
- Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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MEHTA NEILK. Obesity as a Main Threat to Future Improvements in Population Health: Policy Opportunities and Challenges. Milbank Q 2023; 101:460-477. [PMID: 37096602 PMCID: PMC10126978 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Obesity has emerged as a main threat to future improvements in population health, and there is little evidence that the epidemic is retreating. The traditional model of "calories in, calories out," which has guided public health policy for decades, is increasingly viewed as far too simple a framing to explain the evolution of the epidemic or guide public policy. Advances in the science of obesity, coming from many fields, highlight the structural nature of the risk, which has provided an evidence base to justify and guide policies toward addressing the social and environmental drivers of obesity. Societies and researchers need to play the long game in that widespread reductions in obesity in the short run are unlikely. Nonetheless, there are opportunities. Policies specifically targeting the food environment such as taxing high-calorie beverages and foods, restricting the marketing of junk foods to children, enhancing food labeling, and improving the dietary environment at schools may yield long-run benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- NEIL K. MEHTA
- School of Public and Population HealthThe University of Texas Medical Branch
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11
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Rummo PE, Roberto CA, Thorpe LE, Troxel AB, Elbel B. Effect of Financial Incentives and Default Options on Food Choices of Adults With Low Income in Online Retail Settings: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e232371. [PMID: 36897592 PMCID: PMC10789116 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.2371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Despite recent growth in online redemption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, no previous work has tested the impact of economic and behavioral economic strategies on food purchasing behaviors in an online grocery retail setting among adults with low income. Objective To examine the extent to which financial incentives and default shopping cart options influence fruit and vegetable purchases. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial used an experimental online grocery store for adults who currently or have ever received SNAP benefits. From October 7 to December 2, 2021, participants were instructed to shop for a week's worth of groceries for their household, with a budget tailored to household size; no payment was taken. Interventions Random assignment to 1 of 4 conditions: no intervention, 50% discount on eligible fruits and vegetables, prefilled shopping carts with tailored fruit and vegetable items (ie, default options), or a combination of the discount and default options. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the percentage of nondiscounted dollars spent on eligible fruit and vegetables per basket. Results Of 2744 participants, mean (SD) age was 46.7 (16.0) years, and 1447 (52.7%) identified as women. A total of 1842 participants (67.1%) reported currently receiving SNAP benefits and 1492 (54.4%) reported shopping online for groceries in the previous 12 months. Participants spent a mean (SD) 20.5% (23.5%) of total dollars on eligible fruits and vegetables. Compared with no intervention, those in the discount condition spent 4.7% (98.3% CI, 1.7%-7.7%) of more total dollars on eligible fruits and vegetables; those in the default condition, 7.8% (98.3% CI, 4.8%-10.7%) more; and those in the combination condition, 13.0% (98.3% CI, 10.0%-16.0%) more (P < .001 for all). There was no difference between the discount and the default conditions (P = .06), but the effect in the combination condition was significantly larger than both discount and default conditions (P < .001). Default shopping cart items were purchased by 679 participants (93.4%) in the default condition and 655 (95.5%) in the combination condition, whereas 297 (45.8%) in the control and 361 (52.9%) in the discount conditions purchased those items (P < .001). No variation was observed by age, sex, or race and ethnicity, and results were similar when those who reported never shopping online for groceries were excluded. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, financial incentives for fruits and vegetables and default options, especially in combination, led to meaningful increases in online fruit and vegetable purchases among adults with low income. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04766034.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale E. Rummo
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Lorna E. Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Andrea B. Troxel
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Brian Elbel
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York, NY
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Petimar J, Grummon AH, Simon D, Block JP. Nutritional Composition and Purchasing Patterns of Supermarket Prepared Foods Over Time. Am J Prev Med 2023; 64:213-220. [PMID: 36280402 PMCID: PMC9976399 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prepared (ready-to-eat) foods are sold in >90% of U.S. supermarkets, but little is known about their nutritional quality. This study examined trends in purchases of supermarket prepared foods and compared their nutritional profile with that of supermarket packaged foods and restaurant foods. METHODS Nutrition data were obtained on prepared foods sold from 2015 to 2019 in 2 supermarket chains (∼1,200 stores). One chain (193 stores) provided transaction-level sales data from 2015 to 2017. Analyses (conducted in 2021-2022) examined trends in the number of different prepared foods offered by the chains and trends in purchases of calories, total sugar, saturated fat, and sodium from prepared foods. Calorie and nutrient densities (i.e., per 100 g of food) and prevalence of being high in calories or nutrients (on the basis of Chilean standards) were analyzed among supermarket prepared foods, supermarket packaged foods, and restaurant foods consumed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2015-2018. RESULTS The number of different prepared foods offered at supermarket chains increased from 1,930 in 2015 to 4,113 in 2019. Calories per transaction purchased from supermarket prepared foods increased by 1.0 calories/month (95% CI=0.8, 1.1), a ∼3% annual increase, with similar trends for other nutrients. At supermarkets, >90% of prepared bakery and deli items and 61% of prepared entrees/sides were high in calories or another nutrient of concern, similar to supermarket packaged foods and restaurant foods. CONCLUSIONS Supply of and demand for supermarket prepared foods have grown substantially over time. These trends are concerning given these foods' overall poor nutritional quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Petimar
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Denise Simon
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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Lou Z, Yi SS, Pomeranz J, Suss R, Russo R, Rummo PE, Eom H, Liu J, Zhang Y, Moran AE, Bellows BK, Kong N, Li Y. The Health and Economic Impact of Using a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax to Fund Fruit and Vegetable Subsidies in New York City: A Modeling Study. J Urban Health 2023; 100:51-62. [PMID: 36550343 PMCID: PMC9918717 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and high sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are independently associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many people in New York City (NYC) have low FV intake and high SSB consumption, partly due to high cost of fresh FVs and low cost of and easy access to SSBs. A potential implementation of an SSB tax and an FV subsidy program could result in substantial public health and economic benefits. We used a validated microsimulation model for predicting CVD events to estimate the health impact and cost-effectiveness of SSB taxes, FV subsidies, and funding FV subsidies with an SSB tax in NYC. Population demographics and health profiles were estimated using data from the NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Policy effects and price elasticity were derived from recent meta-analyses. We found that funding FV subsidies with an SSB tax was projected to be the most cost-effective policy from the healthcare sector perspective. From the societal perspective, the most cost-effective policy was SSB taxes. All policy scenarios could prevent more CVD events and save more healthcare costs among men compared to women, and among Black vs. White adults. Public health practitioners and policymakers may want to consider adopting this combination of policy actions, while weighing feasibility considerations and other unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyang Lou
- School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Stella S Yi
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer Pomeranz
- Department of Public Health Policy and Management, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Suss
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rienna Russo
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pasquale E Rummo
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heesun Eom
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Junxiu Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yiyi Zhang
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew E Moran
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brandon K Bellows
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nan Kong
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Vadiveloo MK, Parker HW, Thorndike AN. Participant Characteristics Associated with High Responsiveness to Personalized Healthy Food Incentives: a Secondary Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Crossover Smart Cart Study. J Nutr 2023; 152:2913-2921. [PMID: 36040345 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxac197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Personalized dietary behavioral interventions could be enhanced by understanding factors accounting for individual variability in dietary decisions. OBJECTIVE This study was a secondary analysis of the Smart Cart randomized controlled trial to determine whether participant characteristics predicted high responsiveness to personalized grocery incentives for purchasing healthy food. METHODS This secondary analysis of a 9-mo crossover study included 192 regular shoppers (86%) from a Rhode Island supermarket. To analyze whether health, behavioral, and/or sociodemographic characteristics predicted responsiveness to a personalized grocery incentive intervention, participants were divided into 3 categories [high (n = 47), moderate (n = 50), and unresponsive (n = 95)] based on percentage changes in their Grocery Purchase Quality Index scores during the intervention versus control period calculated from sales data. We tested whether participant characteristics, including individual, household, and intervention-related factors, differed across responsiveness groups using ANOVA and whether they predicted the likelihood of being high responsive versus unresponsive or moderate responsive using logistic regression. RESULTS Participants had a mean (SD) age of 56.0 (13.8) y and were 89% female. Education, self-reported BMI, income, diet-related medical condition, food insecurity, cooking adequacy, and value consciousness differed across responsiveness categories (P < 0.1). High versus moderate and unresponsive participants increased their percentage of spending on targeted foods (P < 0.0001) and purchased fewer unique items (P = 0.01). In multinomial adjusted models, the odds of being high versus unresponsive or moderate responsive were lower for participants with a BMI (in kg/m2) <25 versus ≥25 (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.90) and higher with a diet-related medical condition present (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.20, 11.8). Other characteristics were not associated with responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrated that a BMI ≥25 and having a diet-related medical condition within the household predicted high responsiveness to a personalized grocery purchasing intervention, suggesting that personalized dietary interventions may be particularly effective for households with higher health risk. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03748056.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya K Vadiveloo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Haley W Parker
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Mullins AM, McRae AE, Ansah RM, Johnson SB, Flessa SJ, Thornton RL. Healthy Eating Value Systems Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants: A Qualitative Study. Acad Pediatr 2022; 22:1360-1367. [PMID: 35081467 PMCID: PMC9307691 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand how families receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) conceptualize healthy eating and its relationship to child development. METHODS This study is a secondary analysis of in-depth, in-home qualitative interviews. 30 caregivers with children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old participating in SNAP in Baltimore, MD, were asked about food purchasing resources and strategies. Two independent coders re-analyzed primary data using an iterative process to identify a priori themes related to caregivers' conceptualization of healthy eating and emergent themes related to the ways families use SNAP benefits. Themes were identified via content analysis and revised until consensus was reached. RESULTS Participants demonstrated knowledge of nutritious food groups, specific unhealthy nutrients, and the importance of food in managing chronic conditions. However, the importance of nutrition was balanced with the need for ready-made foods that children could safely prepare on their own, shelf stable goods, and low-cost foods. Emergent themes identified caregivers' views of health-related impacts of food beyond nutrition, including the role of food as: a parenting tool to support child socialization and development, a means of creating experiences unique to childhood, and a mechanism for promoting family cohesion. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests families receiving SNAP use benefits to best serve children's well-being while conceptualizing the child health benefits of food as extending beyond nutrition. Future policy interventions aimed at optimizing SNAP should address the potential for nutrition assistance to foster positive child social and emotional development among low-income families while meeting nutritional needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa M Mullins
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (AM Mullins, AE McRae), Baltimore, Md.
| | - Ashlyn E McRae
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (AM Mullins, AE McRae), Baltimore, Md
| | - Rosemary M Ansah
- Department of Pediatrics (RM Ansah, RLJ Thornton), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Mason F. Lord Building, Center Baltimore, Md
| | - Sara B Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics (SB Johnson, SJ Flessa), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Sarah J Flessa
- Department of Pediatrics (SB Johnson, SJ Flessa), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Rachel Lj Thornton
- Department of Pediatrics (RM Ansah, RLJ Thornton), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Mason F. Lord Building, Center Baltimore, Md
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Lowery CM, Henderson R, Curran N, Hoeffler S, De Marco M, Ng SW. Grocery Purchase Changes Were Associated With A North Carolina COVID-19 Food Assistance Incentive Program. Health Aff (Millwood) 2022; 41:1616-1625. [PMID: 36343315 PMCID: PMC10191414 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many low-income Americans experience food insecurity, which may have been exacerbated by economic instability during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this study we assessed the impact of Healthy Helping, a short-term fruit and vegetable incentive program aimed at alleviating food insecurity and improving diet quality for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants, on grocery purchases, using transaction data from a large supermarket chain in North Carolina. We compared Healthy Helping participants' purchases of key food groups before and during the program with purchases by control shoppers participating in federal food assistance programs during the same period. Healthy Helping enrollment was associated with a $26.95 increase in monthly spending on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes-an increase of 2.5 grams of fiber per 1,000 kilocalories purchased-and other shifts in the composition of food purchases, relative to control shoppers. These findings suggest that the program increased healthy food purchases while also increasing dollar sales at participating retailers. On average, participants did not use the full benefit; future research should explore factors associated with non- or underuse of benefits, to inform program design and outreach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Lowery
- Caitlin M. Lowery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Neal Curran
- Neal Curran, Reinvestment Partners, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Shu Wen Ng
- Shu Wen Ng , University of North Carolina
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Auvinen A, Simock M, Moran A. Integrating Produce Prescriptions into the Healthcare System: Perspectives from Key Stakeholders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191711010. [PMID: 36078726 PMCID: PMC9518562 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191711010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
People with low incomes suffer disproportionately from diet-related chronic diseases and may have fewer resources to manage their diseases. The "food as medicine" movement encourages healthcare systems to address these inequities while controlling escalating healthcare costs by integrating interventions such as produce prescriptions, in which healthcare providers distribute benefits for fruit and vegetable purchases. The purpose of this study was to identify perceived facilitators and barriers for designing and implementing produce prescriptions within the healthcare system. Nineteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with experts, and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Overall, interviewees perceived that produce prescriptions could impact patients' diets, food security, disease management, and engagement with the healthcare system, while reducing healthcare costs. Making produce prescriptions convenient to use for patients, while providing resources to program implementers and balancing the priorities of payers, will facilitate program implementation. Integrating produce prescriptions into the healthcare system is feasible but requires program administrators to address implementation barriers such as cost and align complex technology systems (i.e., electronic medical records and benefit/payment processing). Engaging patients, clinics, retailers, and payers in the design phase can improve patient experience with a produce-prescription program; enhance clinic and retail processes enrolling patients and redeeming benefits; and ensure payers can measure outcomes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Auvinen
- Washington State Department of Health, Tumwater, WA 98501, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-360-999-8967
| | - Mary Simock
- Washington State Department of Health, Tumwater, WA 98501, USA
| | - Alyssa Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Andreyeva T, Marple K, Moore TE, Powell LM. Evaluation of Economic and Health Outcomes Associated With Food Taxes and Subsidies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2214371. [PMID: 35648401 PMCID: PMC9161015 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Fiscal policy is a promising approach to incentivizing better food choices and reducing the burden of chronic disease. To inform guidelines on using fiscal policies, including taxes and subsidies, to promote health, the World Health Organization commissioned a systematic review and meta-analysis of the worldwide literature on the outcomes of such policies for food products. OBJECTIVE To assess the outcomes of implemented food taxes and subsidies for prices, sales, consumption, and population-level diet and health. DATA SOURCES Eight bibliographic databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature and 14 data sources along with governmental websites were searched for grey literature that were published from database inception through June 1, 2020. There were no language and setting restrictions. STUDY SELECTION Only primary studies of implemented food taxes and subsidies were considered for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline was followed. A 3-level random-effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis of sales and consumption outcomes of fruit and vegetable subsidies. Other outcomes were analyzed in a narrative synthesis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Study estimates in the meta-analysis were combined using a price elasticity measure for sales and consumption outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and τ2. Studies varied in how diet and health were measured. RESULTS A total of 54 articles were included in the systematic review, of which 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Most food subsidies targeted fruits and vegetables and populations with low income, whereas the evidence on food taxes was primarily from the nonessential energy-dense food tax in Mexico. Sales of subsidized fruits and vegetables increased significantly, with an estimated price elasticity of demand of -0.59 (95% CI, -1.04 to -0.13 [P = .02]; 95% prediction interval, -2.07 to 0.90; I2 = 92.4% [95% CI, 89.0%-94.8%; P < .001]), suggesting inelastic demand. There was no significant change in the consumption of subsidized fruits and vegetables, with an estimated price elasticity of demand of -0.17 (95% CI, -0.49 to 0.15 [P = .26]; 95% prediction interval, -1.01 to 0.67; I2 = 76.2% [95% CI, 54.3%-87.6%; P < .001]). Food excise taxes were associated with higher prices and reduced sales. Evidence was limited on the differential outcomes of food taxes and subsidies across subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that fruit and vegetable subsidies were associated with a moderate increase in fruit and vegetable sales. Further research is warranted to understand the implications of food taxes and subsidies for population-level consumption, diet, and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Andreyeva
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford
| | - Keith Marple
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Timothy E. Moore
- Statistical Consulting Services, Center for Open Research Resources and Equipment, University of Connecticut, Storrs
| | - Lisa M. Powell
- Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago
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Thorndike AN, Gardner CD, Kendrick KB, Seligman HK, Yaroch AL, Gomes AV, Ivy KN, Scarmo S, Cotwright CJ, Schwartz MB. Strengthening US Food Policies and Programs to Promote Equity in Nutrition Security: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2022; 145:e1077-e1093. [PMID: 35535604 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nutritionally inadequate dietary intake is a leading contributor to chronic cardiometabolic diseases. Differences in dietary quality contribute to socioeconomic and racial and ethnic health disparities. Food insecurity, a household-level social or economic condition of limited access to sufficient food, is a common cause of inadequate dietary intake. Although US food assistance policies and programs are designed to improve food security, there is growing consensus that they should have a broader focus on nutrition security. In this policy statement, we define nutrition security as an individual or household condition of having equitable and stable availability, access, affordability, and utilization of foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent and treat disease. Despite existing policies and programs, significant gaps remain for achieving equity in nutrition security across the life span. We provide recommendations for expanding and improving current food assistance policies and programs to achieve nutrition security. These recommendations are guided by several overarching principles: emphasizing nutritional quality, improving reach, ensuring optimal utilization, improving coordination across programs, ensuring stability of access to programs across the life course, and ensuring equity and dignity for access and utilization. We suggest a critical next step will be to develop and implement national measures of nutrition security that can be added to the current US food security measures. Achieving equity in nutrition security will require coordinated and sustained efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. Future advocacy, innovation, and research will be needed to expand existing food assistance policies and programs and to develop and implement new policies and programs that will improve cardiovascular health and reduce disparities in chronic disease.
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Drapkina OM, Kontsevaya AV, Kalinina AM, Avdeev SM, Agaltsov MV, Alexandrova LM, Antsiferova AA, Aronov DM, Akhmedzhanov NM, Balanova YA, Balakhonova TV, Berns SA, Bochkarev MV, Bochkareva EV, Bubnova MV, Budnevsky AV, Gambaryan MG, Gorbunov VM, Gorny BE, Gorshkov AY, Gumanova NG, Dadaeva VA, Drozdova LY, Egorov VA, Eliashevich SO, Ershova AI, Ivanova ES, Imaeva AE, Ipatov PV, Kaprin AD, Karamnova NS, Kobalava ZD, Konradi AO, Kopylova OV, Korostovtseva LS, Kotova MB, Kulikova MS, Lavrenova EA, Lischenko OV, Lopatina MV, Lukina YV, Lukyanov MM, Mayev IV, Mamedov MN, Markelova SV, Martsevich SY, Metelskaya VA, Meshkov AN, Milushkina OY, Mukaneeva DK, Myrzamatova AO, Nebieridze DV, Orlov DO, Poddubskaya EA, Popovich MV, Popovkina OE, Potievskaya VI, Prozorova GG, Rakovskaya YS, Rotar OP, Rybakov IA, Sviryaev YV, Skripnikova IA, Skoblina NA, Smirnova MI, Starinsky VV, Tolpygina SN, Usova EV, Khailova ZV, Shalnova SA, Shepel RN, Shishkova VN, Yavelov IS. 2022 Prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in Of the Russian Federation. National guidelines. КАРДИОВАСКУЛЯРНАЯ ТЕРАПИЯ И ПРОФИЛАКТИКА 2022. [DOI: 10.15829/1728-8800-2022-3235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Franckle RL, Boulos RJ, Thorndike AN, Moran AJ, Khandpur N, Blue D, Greene J, Block JP, Rimm EB, Polacsek M. Implementation of a 2-for-1 Price Incentive for Fruits and Vegetables in a Grocery Retail Setting. Health Promot Pract 2022:15248399221086880. [PMID: 35414293 DOI: 10.1177/15248399221086880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is growing interest in expanding healthy eating interventions in the retail setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a successful 2-for-1 price incentive for fruits and vegetables (F&V), including frozen and canned, that took place in partnership with a large chain grocery retailer in Maine. Intervention Approach. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) pilot study was conducted in 2015-2016, followed by a larger RCT in 2016-2017, to assess whether a supermarket double-dollar F&V incentive increased purchases of these items. EVALUATION METHODS A convergent, parallel mixed-methods design was used to examine barriers and facilitators to implementing the interventions, using six implementation outcomes: acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, implementation fidelity, and perceived cost. RESULTS The intervention was deemed highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible by shoppers, retailers, and researchers. The F&V discount had a high rate of initial adoption. There was a moderate degree of fidelity, which improved over time based on lessons learned from the pilot and applied to the subsequent RCT. Specific costs associated with implementation from the research perspective are reported. Implications for Practice, Policy, and Research. Partnerships between academic researchers and retailers can be an effective model for improving healthful purchases among shoppers. These findings are relevant for investigators, public health advocates, and retailers interested in implementing similar grocery retail-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R J Boulos
- Maine Public Health Association, Augusta, ME, USA
| | - A N Thorndike
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A J Moran
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - N Khandpur
- University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D Blue
- Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - J Greene
- Guiding Stars Licensing Company LLC, Ahold Delhaize, USA
| | - J P Block
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E B Rimm
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Polacsek
- University of New England, Portland, ME, USA
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22
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Misyak SA, Parker MK, Ledlie Johnson M, Hedges S, Borst E, McNamara Best M, Hedrick VE. A Preliminary Evaluation of Virginia Fresh Match: Impacts and Demographic Considerations for Future Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074367. [PMID: 35410044 PMCID: PMC8998410 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this communication is to describe the preliminary evaluation of the Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) financial incentive program for fresh fruits and vegetables for Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shoppers and to determine if there were differences in incentive outcomes by race. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to shoppers using Virginia Fresh Match incentives at participating farmers markets and community-based food retail outlets. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to detect differences in fruit and vegetable consumption between demographic groups over time. Chi-square tests were used to determine if there were associations between race and perceived impact of VFM incentives on making food last and the attribution of VFM incentives to changes in fruit and vegetable consumption frequency. Frequency of fruit and vegetable intake was significantly higher during VFM incentive use, with a difference of 1.17 ± 0.07 and 1.07 ± 0.07 on a Likert scale measure, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). There were racial differences in assertions that VFM incentives helped food to last. VFM incentives were effective at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, but racial differences should be considered in the administration of VFM to avoid reinforcing systems or approaches that may contribute to disparities in food access and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Misyak
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Molly K. Parker
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (M.K.P.); (V.E.H.)
| | - Meredith Ledlie Johnson
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Sam Hedges
- Local Environmental Agriculture Project, Roanoke, VA 24015, USA; (S.H.); (M.M.B.)
| | - Elizabeth Borst
- Virginia Community Food Connections, Fredericksburg, VA 22404, USA;
| | | | - Valisa E. Hedrick
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (M.K.P.); (V.E.H.)
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23
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Stangierska D, Kowalczuk I, Widera K, Olewnicki D, Latocha P. Innovation as a Factor Increasing Fruit Consumption: The Case of Poland. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061246. [PMID: 35334903 PMCID: PMC8955267 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the low level of fruit consumption in relation to dietary recommendations in many European countries, including Poland, multidirectional actions should be taken to increase the consumption of these products. One of the ideas could be the introduction of innovative products. The main goal of the study is to determine the relationship between consumer propensity to purchase innovative products and the frequency of consumption of fruits and their preserves of consumers. The research sample consisted of 600 respondents who declared to consume fruit and were responsible for food shopping in their households. The results obtained indicate that consumers with a higher propensity to purchase innovative products consumed fruit and fruit preserves more. In addition, statistically significant differences were found between innovators and non-innovators in terms of income, expenditures on fruit purchases, places where fruit and fruit preserves were purchased and product characteristics that determined the purchase decision. The logistic regression results indicate that a higher frequency of supermarket/hypermarket and online shopping, a higher weekly spending on fruit and a greater importance attributed to the biodegradability of the packaging increased the favorability of innovation relatively to fruit products (by 23.8%, 31.4%, 32.7% and 21.6%, respectively). The relationships found may have important implications for both private and public stakeholders in the fruit and vegetable sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmara Stangierska
- Department of Pomology and Horticulture Economics, Institute of Horticulture Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, Poland; (D.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Iwona Kowalczuk
- Department of Food Market and Consumer Research, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Katarzyna Widera
- Department of Economics, Finance, Regional and International Research, Faculty of Economics and Management, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758 Opole, Poland;
| | - Dawid Olewnicki
- Department of Pomology and Horticulture Economics, Institute of Horticulture Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, Poland; (D.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Piotr Latocha
- Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticulture Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
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24
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Althoff T, Nilforoshan H, Hua J, Leskovec J. Large-scale diet tracking data reveal disparate associations between food environment and diet. Nat Commun 2022; 13:267. [PMID: 35042849 PMCID: PMC8766578 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer1-4. Limited access to healthy food options may contribute to unhealthy diets5,6. Studying diets is challenging, typically restricted to small sample sizes, single locations, and non-uniform design across studies, and has led to mixed results on the impact of the food environment7-23. Here we leverage smartphones to track diet health, operationalized through the self-reported consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, fast food and soda, as well as body-mass index status in a country-wide observational study of 1,164,926 U.S. participants (MyFitnessPal app users) and 2.3 billion food entries to study the independent contributions of fast food and grocery store access, income and education to diet health outcomes. This study constitutes the largest nationwide study examining the relationship between the food environment and diet to date. We find that higher access to grocery stores, lower access to fast food, higher income and college education are independently associated with higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, lower consumption of fast food and soda, and lower likelihood of being affected by overweight and obesity. However, these associations vary significantly across zip codes with predominantly Black, Hispanic or white populations. For instance, high grocery store access has a significantly larger association with higher fruit and vegetable consumption in zip codes with predominantly Hispanic populations (7.4% difference) and Black populations (10.2% difference) in contrast to zip codes with predominantly white populations (1.7% difference). Policy targeted at improving food access, income and education may increase healthy eating, but intervention allocation may need to be optimized for specific subpopulations and locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Althoff
- Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Hamed Nilforoshan
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jenna Hua
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Million Marker Wellness Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jure Leskovec
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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25
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Van Hove L. Consumer characteristics and e-grocery services: the primacy of the primary shopper. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RESEARCH 2022; 22:241-266. [PMCID: PMC8992424 DOI: 10.1007/s10660-022-09551-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The literature does not agree on the precise role of socio-demographic characteristics in the adoption of online grocery shopping. This methodological note reviews the literature and shows that the differences in empirical results can to a large extent be explained by the data that is used. In particular, what matters is whether or not the survey that is exploited was targeted at the household member primarily responsible for the grocery shopping. I show that studies that use a non-targeted survey erroneously find that women are keener to adopt e-grocery services, in that the gender gap is simply due to women’s role as homemakers. I also show that such studies tend to underestimate the impact of education and income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Van Hove
- Department of Applied Economics (APEC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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26
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Valluri S, Mason SM, Peterson HH, French SA, Harnack LJ. The impact of financial incentives and restrictions on cyclical food expenditures among low-income households receiving nutrition assistance: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2021; 18:157. [PMID: 34863192 PMCID: PMC8642917 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-021-01223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States. Two proposed interventions to encourage healthier food expenditures among SNAP participants have generated significant debate: financial incentives for fruits and vegetables, and restrictions on foods high in added sugar. To date, however, no study has assessed the impact of these interventions on the benefit cycle, a pattern of rapid depletion of SNAP benefits that has been linked to worsening nutrition and health outcomes over the benefit month. METHODS Low-income households not currently enrolled in SNAP (n = 249) received benefits every 4 weeks for 12 weeks on a study-specific benefit card. Households were randomized to one of four study arms: 1) incentive (30% incentive for fruits and vegetables purchased with study benefits), 2) restriction (not allowed to buy sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet baked goods, or candy using study benefits), 3) incentive plus restriction, or 4) control (no incentive or restriction). Weekly household food expenditures were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS Compared to the control group, financial incentives increased fruit and vegetable purchases, but only in the first 2 weeks after benefit disbursement. Restrictions decreased expenditures on foods high in added sugar throughout the benefit month, but the magnitude of the impact decreased as the month progressed. Notably, restrictions mitigated cyclical expenditures. CONCLUSIONS Policies to improve nutrition outcomes among SNAP participants should consider including targeted interventions in the second half of the month to address the benefit cycle and attendant nutrition outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02643576 . Retrospectively registered December 22, 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sruthi Valluri
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Susan M Mason
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Hikaru Hanawa Peterson
- Department of Applied Economics, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Simone A French
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Lisa J Harnack
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
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27
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Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Mande JR, Rimm EB. Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:5127-5132. [PMID: 34030759 PMCID: PMC11082826 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021002238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations - especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v. those who only shopped in-store. DESIGN We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univariate χ2 and t-tests and logistic regression to assess differences in socio-demographic characteristics between households that only shopped in-store and those that shopped online with curbside pickup (online only or online and in-store). SETTING Two Maine supermarkets. PARTICIPANTS 863 parents or caregivers of children under 18 years old enrolled in two fruit and vegetable incentive trials. RESULTS Participants had a total of 32 757 transactions. In univariate assessments, online shoppers had higher incomes (P < 0 0001), were less likely to participate in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; P < 0 0001) and were more likely to be female (P = 0·04). Most online shoppers were 30-39 years old, and few were 50 years or older (P = 0·003). After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, number of children, number of adults, income and SNAP participation, female primary shoppers (OR = 2·75, P = 0·003), number of children (OR = 1·27, P = 0·04) and income (OR = 3·91 for 186-300 % federal poverty line (FPL) and OR = 6·92 for >300 % FPL, P < 0·0001) were significantly associated with likelihood of shopping online. CONCLUSIONS In the current study of Maine families, low-income shoppers were significantly less likely to utilise online grocery ordering with curbside pickup. Future studies could focus on elucidating barriers and developing strategies to improve access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Y Zatz
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca L Franckle
- Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tao Hou
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
| | - Dan Blue
- Hannaford Marketing, Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | | | - Steven Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michele Polacsek
- Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jerold R Mande
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Bhat S, Coyle DH, Trieu K, Neal B, Mozaffarian D, Marklund M, Wu JHY. Healthy Food Prescription Programs and their Impact on Dietary Behavior and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv Nutr 2021; 12:1944-1956. [PMID: 33999108 PMCID: PMC8483962 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The enormous burden of diet-related chronic diseases has prompted interest in healthy food prescription programs. Yet, the impact of such programs remains unclear. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of healthy food prescription programs and evaluate their impact on dietary behavior and cardiometabolic parameters by meta-analysis. A systematic search was carried out in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases since their inception to 3 January, 2020 without language restriction. A systematic search of interventional studies investigating the effect of healthy food prescription on diet quality and/or cardiometabolic risk factors including BMI, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or blood lipids was carried out. Thirteen studies were identified for inclusion, most of which were quasi-experimental (pre/post) interventions without a control group (n = 9). Pooled estimates revealed a 22% (95% CI: 12, 32; n = 5 studies, n = 1039 participants; I2 = 97%) increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, corresponding to 0.8 higher daily servings (95% CI: 0.2, 1.4; I2 = 96%). BMI decreased by 0.6 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.2, 1.1; I2 = 6.4%) and HbA1c by 0.8% (95% CI: 0.1, 1.6; I2 = 92%). No significant change was observed in other cardiometabolic parameters. These findings should be interpreted with caution in light of considerable heterogeneity, methodological limitations of the included studies, and moderate to very low certainty of evidence. Our results support the need for well-designed, large, randomized controlled trials in various settings to further establish the efficacy of healthy food prescription programs on diet quality and cardiometabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saiuj Bhat
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Daisy H Coyle
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kathy Trieu
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bruce Neal
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dariush Mozaffarian
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matti Marklund
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jason H Y Wu
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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29
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Grummon AH, Petimar J, Zhang F, Rao A, Gortmaker SL, Rimm EB, Bleich SN, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Polacsek M, Simon D, Greene JC, Till S, Block JP. Calorie Labeling and Product Reformulation: A Longitudinal Analysis of Supermarket-Prepared Foods. Am J Prev Med 2021; 61:377-385. [PMID: 34103209 PMCID: PMC8384707 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The 2010 Affordable Care Act required chain retail food establishments, including supermarkets, to post calorie information for prepared (i.e., ready to eat) foods. Implementation of calorie labeling could spur companies to reduce the calorie content of prepared foods, but few studies have explored this. This study evaluates the changes in the calorie content of prepared foods at 2 large U.S. supermarket chains after they implemented calorie labels in April 2017. METHODS The chains (≈1,200 stores) provided data on the calorie content and labeling status of all items sold between July 2015 and January 2019. In 2021, analyses used a difference-in-differences approach to examine the changes in the calorie content of prepared bakery, entree, and deli items introduced before calorie labeling to those introduced after the labeling compared with changes in similar foods not subject to the new labeling requirement. Primary analyses examined continuously available items; exploratory analyses examined items newly introduced to the marketplace. RESULTS Relative to changes in comparison foods not subject to the labeling requirement, continuously available prepared bakery items decreased by 7.7 calories per item after calorie labels were implemented (95% CI= -12.9, -2.5, p=0.004, ≈0.5% reduction). In exploratory analyses, prepared bakery items introduced after calorie labeling contained 440 fewer calories per item than those introduced before calorie labeling (95% CI= -773.9, -106.1, p=0.01, ≈27% reduction), driven by reductions in product size. No changes were observed in the calorie content of continuously available or newly introduced prepared entrees or deli items. CONCLUSIONS Implementing calorie labels could encourage product reformulation among some types of prepared supermarket foods. These supply-side changes could lead to reductions in caloric intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Grummon
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Joshua Petimar
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anjali Rao
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven L Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rebecca L Franckle
- Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michele Polacsek
- Center for Excellence in Public Health, University of New England, Portland, Maine
| | - Denise Simon
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie C Greene
- Guiding Stars Licensing Company LLC, Ahold Delhaize USA, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Sue Till
- Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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30
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Parks CA, Han P, Fricke HE, Parker HA, Hesterman OB, Yaroch AL. Reducing food insecurity and improving fruit and vegetable intake through a nutrition incentive program in Michigan, USA. SSM Popul Health 2021; 15:100898. [PMID: 34458551 PMCID: PMC8379520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nutrition incentive (NI) programs increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables (FVs) among low-income participants. Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) is a robust statewide NI program in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to report findings from DUFB in Michigan describing the factors related to FV intake (FVI) and food insecurity among participants in a NI program. Methods We administered a repeated cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of DUFB participants at farmers markets and grocery stores (over the 2016, 2017, 2018 seasons). The survey was conducted online via paper-pencil. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. A logistic regression model estimated household food insecurity and a linear regression estimated FVI with DUFB use/perceptions, sociodemographics, and health status as independent variables (significance level = p < 0.05). Results Descriptive results revealed that participants that completed surveys at grocery stores tended to be more racially-ethnically diverse and younger than participants that completed surveys at farmers markets. Participants with lower length of time participating in DUFB (i.e., lower dose) (p < 0.001), greater FV purchases (p < 0.05), and lower perceived health status (p < 0.001) tended to report being food insecure more frequently. Participants with increased length of time participating in DUFB (p < 0.05), greater FV purchases (p < 0.001), being male (p < 0.01), and greater perceived health status (p < 0.001) tended to report higher levels of FVI more frequently. Conclusions Longer participation in DUFB leads to improved outcomes with FVI and food security, suggesting that NI programs do have the intended positive impact they were designed to achieve. Low income populations carry a larger burden of obesity, food insecurity, and chronic disease. Nutrition incentive programs were developed to address affordability barriers to healthy eating among SNAP participants. Participants at grocery stores tended to be more racially-ethnically diverse and younger than participants at farmers markets. Participants with longer time in the program reported greater FVI and higher levels of food security.
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Key Words
- DSQ, Dietary Screener Questionnaire
- DUFB, Double Up Food Bucks
- FINI, Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive
- FVI, Fruit and vegetable intake
- FVs, Fruit and vegetables
- Farmers markets
- Food insecurity
- Fruit and vegetable consumption
- Grocery stores
- GusNIP, Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
- NI, Nutrition incentive
- NIFA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Nutrition incentives
- SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- U.S., United States
- USDA, United States Department of Agriculture
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Parks
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, 8401 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, NE, 68114, USA
| | - P Han
- University of Michigan, Department of Biostatistics, M4531, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - H E Fricke
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, 8401 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, NE, 68114, USA
| | - H A Parker
- Fair Food Network, 1250 North Main Street, North Suite, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
| | - O B Hesterman
- Fair Food Network, 1250 North Main Street, North Suite, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
| | - A L Yaroch
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, 8401 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, NE, 68114, USA
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Berkowitz SA, Curran N, Hoeffler S, Henderson R, Price A, Ng SW. Association of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy Program With Food Purchases by Individuals With Low Income in the US. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2120377. [PMID: 34379125 PMCID: PMC8358732 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Food insecurity is associated with a less healthy diet. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is associated with reduced food insecurity, but benefit levels may be insufficient for beneficiaries to afford healthy foods. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether participation in SuperSNAP, a program that provides an additional $40 per month for the purchase of fruits and vegetables with no added sugar, sodium, or fat to SNAP beneficiaries, is associated with changes in food purchasing. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This longitudinal cohort study used data from transaction records of a large supermarket chain with approximately 500 stores located across North Carolina from October 2019 to April 2020. Participants were SNAP beneficiaries. EXPOSURE SuperSNAP participation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Monthly spending on all fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts (primary outcome); spending on less healthy food categories; and spending on sugar-sweetened beverages as 1 category of less healthy foods. Monthly data on purchases by SNAP beneficiaries before and during SuperSNAP participation were compared with data from SNAP beneficiaries not enrolled in the program who shopped at the same stores. Overlap weighting (a propensity score-based method) was used to account for confounding, and linear mixed-effects models were fitted with random effects to account for repeated measures and clustering by store. RESULTS The study included 667 SuperSNAP participants and 33 246 SNAP beneficiaries who did not use SuperSNAP but shopped in the same stores; 436 SuperSNAP participants had preintervention data and were included in the main analysis. SuperSNAP participation was associated with increased monthly purchases of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes ($31.84; 95% CI, $31.27-$32.42; P < .001; 294.52 oz; 95% CI, 288.84-300.20 oz; P < .001). Only a small increase in spending on less healthy food categories compared with the SNAP beneficiaries who did not use SuperSNAP ($1.60; 95% CI, $0.67-$2.53; P < .001) was observed. As total spending increased, the proportion of total food and beverage spending on less healthy foods significantly decreased (difference, 4.51%; 95% CI, 4.27%-4.74%; P < .001). Monthly spending on sugar-sweetened beverages decreased (difference, $1.83; 95% CI, $1.30-$2.36; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, participation in SuperSNAP was associated with meaningful increases in healthy food purchasing. Subsequent studies should investigate whether healthy food incentive programs improve health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth A. Berkowitz
- Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
- Center for Health Equity Research, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
| | - Neal Curran
- Reinvestment Partners, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Richard Henderson
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Ashley Price
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Rimm EB. Comparing Online and In-Store Grocery Purchases. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 53:471-479. [PMID: 34116742 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the grocery shopping patterns of people who shopped both online and in-store and evaluate whether shoppers purchased fewer unhealthy, impulse-sensitive items online. DESIGN Secondary analysis of 44 weeks of grocery transaction data collected for fruit and vegetable incentive trials in 2 Maine supermarkets. PARTICIPANTS A total of 137 primary household shoppers who shopped at least once in-store and online (curbside pickup) for 5,573 total transactions MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS: Paired t tests and descriptive analyses compared online and in-store transactions with respect to frequency, total spending, number of items purchased, and spending on 10 food groups and 34 subgroups. Mixed-effects regression models estimated differences in online vs in-store spending on 5 unhealthy, impulse-sensitive subgroups. RESULTS When shopping online, participants spent 44% more per transaction ($113.58 vs $78.88, P < 0.001) and purchased more items (38.3 vs 26.6 items/transaction, P < 0.001). Compared with in-store, shopping online was associated with reduced spending per transaction on candy (-$0.65, P < 0.001), cold or frozen desserts (-$0.52, P < 0.001), and grain-based desserts (-$1.29, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Online shopping was associated with lower spending on certain unhealthy, impulse-sensitive foods. Grocery-based healthy eating initiatives might leverage online ordering platforms to increase their reach and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Y Zatz
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Rebecca L Franckle
- Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Tao Hou
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Dan Blue
- Hannaford Marketing, Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME
| | | | - Steven Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Michele Polacsek
- Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Rummo PE, Lyerly R, Rose J, Malyuta Y, Cohen ED, Nunn A. The impact of financial incentives on SNAP transactions at mobile produce markets. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2021; 18:26. [PMID: 33557852 PMCID: PMC7871404 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-021-01093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Offering financial incentives promotes increases in fruit and vegetable purchases in farmers' markets and supermarkets. Yet, little is understood about whether food-insecure adults purchase more fruits and vegetables as a result of receiving financial incentives in mobile produce market settings. METHODS In 2018-2019, Food on the Move provided a 50% discount to customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase fruit and vegetables from 16 market locations in Rhode Island (n = 412 market occasions). We used mixed multivariable linear regression to estimate the difference in total dollar sales per transaction per month between SNAP transactions and non-SNAP transactions. We also estimated the difference in out-of-pocket dollar sales per transaction per month between SNAP and non-SNAP transactions, less the 50% discount. This reflects the actual amount spent on fresh fruits and vegetables purchased per visit. In both models, we controlled for the number of market sites per month, with fixed effects for quarter and year. We estimated random intercept variance for date of transaction and market site to adjust for clustering. RESULTS In 2018-2019, the majority of market transactions (total n = 13,165) were SNAP transactions [n = 7.988 (63.0%)]. On average, customers spent $17.38 (SD = 16.69) on fruits and vegetables per transaction per month. However, customers using SNAP benefits spent significantly more on FVs per transaction per month [$22.01 (SD = 17.97)] compared to those who did not use SNAP benefits [9.81 (SD = 10.68)] (β = $10.88; 95% CI: 10.18, 11.58). Similarly, out-of-pocket dollar sales per SNAP transaction per month (i.e., less the 50% discount) were significantly higher [$11.42 (SD = 9.44)] relative to non-SNAP transactions [$9.40 (SD = 9.33)] (β = $1.85; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.27). CONCLUSIONS Financial incentives contributed to higher fruit and vegetable purchases among low-income customers who shop at mobile produce markets by making produce more affordable. Higher spending on fruits and vegetables may promote healthy diet behaviors and reduce chronic disease risk among food-insecure adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale E Rummo
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Reece Lyerly
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, RI, USA.,Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Yelena Malyuta
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Amy Nunn
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, RI, USA. .,Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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Vadiveloo M, Guan X, Parker HW, Perraud E, Buchanan A, Atlas S, Thorndike AN. Effect of Personalized Incentives on Dietary Quality of Groceries Purchased: A Randomized Crossover Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2030921. [PMID: 33566105 PMCID: PMC7876589 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.30921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Many factors are associated with food choice. Personalized interventions could help improve dietary intake by using individual purchasing preferences to promote healthier grocery purchases. OBJECTIVE To test whether a healthy food incentive intervention using an algorithm incorporating customer preferences, purchase history, and baseline diet quality improves grocery purchase dietary quality and spending on healthy foods. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This was a 9-month randomized clinical crossover trial (AB-BA) with a 2- to 4-week washout period between 3-month intervention periods. Participants included 224 loyalty program members at an independent Rhode Island supermarket who completed baseline questionnaires and were randomized from July to September 2018 to group 1 (AB) or group 2 (BA). Data analysis was performed from September 2019 to May 2020. INTERVENTION Participants received personalized weekly coupons with nutrition education during the intervention period (A) and occasional generic coupons with nutrition education during the control period (B). An automated study algorithm used customer data to allocate personalized healthy food incentives to participant loyalty cards. All participants received a 5% grocery discount. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016 (GPQI-16) scores (range, 0-75, with higher scores denoting healthier purchases) and percentage spending on targeted foods were calculated from cumulative purchasing data. Participants in the top and bottom 1% of spending were excluded. Paired t tests examined between-group differences. RESULTS The analytical sample included 209 participants (104 in group 1 and 105 in group 2), with a mean (SD) age of 55.4 (14.0) years. They were predominantly non-Hispanic White (193 of 206 participants [94.1%]) and female (187 of 207 participants [90.3%]). Of 161 participants with income data, 81 (50.3%) had annual household incomes greater than or equal to $100 000. Paired t tests showed that the intervention increased GPQI-16 scores (between-group difference, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.27-1.86; P = .01) and percentage spending on targeted foods (between-group difference, 1.38%; 95% CI, 0.08%-2.69%; P = .04). During the initial intervention period, group 1 (AB) and group 2 (BA) had similar mean (SD) GPQI-16 scores (41.2 [6.6] vs 41.0 [7.5]) and mean (SD) percentage spending on targeted healthy foods (32.0% [10.8%] vs 31.0% [10.5%]). During the crossover intervention period, group 2 had a higher mean (SD) GPQI-16 score than group 1 (42.9 [7.7] vs 41.0 [6.8]) and mean (SD) percentage spending on targeted foods (34.0% [12.1%] vs 32.0% [13.1%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This pilot trial demonstrated preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a novel personalized healthy food incentive algorithm to improve grocery purchase dietary quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03748056.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Vadiveloo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
| | - Xintong Guan
- Marketing Area, College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
| | - Haley W. Parker
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
| | | | - Ashley Buchanan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
| | - Stephen Atlas
- Marketing Area, College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
| | - Anne N. Thorndike
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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The effect of a fresh produce incentive paired with cooking and nutrition education on healthy eating in low-income households: a pilot study. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:2704-2714. [PMID: 33431079 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021000094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study pilot-tested combining financial incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables with nutrition education focused on cooking to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and improve attitudes around healthy eating on a budget among low-income adults. The goal of the pilot study was to examine implementation feasibility and fidelity, acceptability of the intervention components by participants and effectiveness. DESIGN The study design was a pre-post individual-level comparison without a control group. The pilot intervention included two components, a scan card providing free produce up to a weekly maximum dollar amount for use over a 2-month period, and two sessions of tailored nutrition and cooking education. Outcomes included self-reported attitudes about healthy eating and daily fruit and vegetable consumption from one 24-h dietary recall collected before and after the intervention. SETTING Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS Adults (n 120) were recruited from five community food pantries. RESULTS Findings indicated that the financial incentive component of the intervention was highly feasible and acceptable to participants, but attendance at the nutrition education sessions was moderate. Participants had a statistically significant increase in the consumption of fruit, from an average of 1·00 cup/d to 1·78 cups/d (P < 0·001), but no significant change in vegetable consumption or attitudes with respect to their ability to put together a healthy meal. CONCLUSIONS While combining financial incentives with nutrition education appears to be acceptable to low-income adult participants, barriers to attend nutrition education sessions need to be addressed in future research.
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Yoder AD, Proaño GV, Handu D. Retail Nutrition Programs and Outcomes: An Evidence Analysis Center Scoping Review. J Acad Nutr Diet 2020; 121:1866-1880.e4. [PMID: 33229206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.08.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As nutrition-related diseases contribute to rising health care costs, food retail settings are providing a unique opportunity for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to address the nutritional needs of consumers. Food as Medicine interventions play a role in preventing and/or managing many chronic conditions that drive health care costs. The objective of this scoping review was to identify and characterize literature examining Food as Medicine interventions within food retail settings and across consumer demographics. An electronic literature search of 8 databases identified 11,404 relevant articles. Results from the searches were screened against inclusion criteria, and intervention effectiveness was assessed for the following outcomes: improvement in health outcomes and cost-effectiveness. One-hundred and eighty-six papers and 25 systematic reviews met inclusion criteria. Five categories surfaced as single interventions: prescription programs, incentive programs, medically tailored nutrition, path-to-purchase marketing, and personalized nutrition education. Multiple combinations of intervention categories, reporting of health outcomes (nutritional quality of shopping purchases, eating habits, biometric measures), and cost-effectiveness (store sales, health care dollar savings) also emerged. The intervention categories that produced both improved health outcomes and cost-effectiveness included a combination of incentive programs, personalized nutrition education, and path-to-purchase marketing. Food as Medicine interventions in the food retail setting can aid consumers in navigating health through diet and nutrition by encompassing the following strategic focus areas: promotion of health and well-being, managing chronic disease, and improving food security. Food retailers should consider the target population and desired focus areas and should engage registered dietitian nutritionists when developing Food as Medicine interventions.
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Moran AJ, Gu Y, Clynes S, Goheer A, Roberto CA, Palmer A. Associations between Governmental Policies to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Supermarket Purchases and Individual, Retailer, and Community Health Outcomes: An Integrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E7493. [PMID: 33076280 PMCID: PMC7602424 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Supermarkets are natural and important settings for implementing environmental interventions to improve healthy eating, and governmental policies could help improve the nutritional quality of purchases in this setting. This review aimed to: (1) identify governmental policies in the United States (U.S.), including regulatory and legislative actions of federal, tribal, state, and local governments, designed to promote healthy choices in supermarkets; and (2) synthesize evidence of these policies' effects on retailers, consumers, and community health. We searched five policy databases and developed a list of seven policy actions that meet our inclusion criteria: calorie labeling of prepared foods in supermarkets; increasing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; financial incentives for the purchase of fruit and vegetables; sweetened beverage taxes; revisions to the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package; financial assistance for supermarkets to open in underserved areas; and allowing online purchases with SNAP. We searched PubMed, Econlit, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Business Source Ultimate to identify peer-reviewed, academic, English-language literature published at any time until January 2020; 147 studies were included in the review. Sweetened beverage taxes, revisions to the WIC food package, and financial incentives for fruits and vegetables were associated with improvements in dietary behaviors (food purchases and/or consumption). Providing financial incentives to supermarkets to open in underserved areas and increases in SNAP benefits were not associated with changes in food purchasing or diet quality but may improve food security. More research is needed to understand the effects of calorie labeling in supermarkets and online SNAP purchasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Yuxuan Gu
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (Y.G.); (S.C.)
| | - Sasha Clynes
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (Y.G.); (S.C.)
| | - Attia Goheer
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Christina A. Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Anne Palmer
- Department of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
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Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing access and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors. Public Health Nutr 2020; 23:3226-3235. [PMID: 32886057 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020002931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mobile produce markets (MPM) offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive programmes have the potential to provide accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables (FV) to populations at risk of food insecurity. The objective of this study is to characterise the customer base of an MPM and describe their participation at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors. DESIGN In 2018, customers from an MPM in Rhode Island (RI) participated in a cross-sectional survey (n 330; 68 % response rate), which measured dietary patterns, food security and food shopping behaviours. We compared the shopping habits and market experiences of customers who currently received SNAP benefits with those who did not currently receive SNAP benefits. SETTING An MPM in RI which offers a 50 % discount for FV purchased with SNAP benefits. PARTICIPANTS This study describes current market customers at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors. RESULTS Market customers were mostly low-income, female, over the age of 50 years and Hispanic/Latino. Most customers received SNAP benefits, and almost half were food insecure. In addition, three quarters of SNAP customers reported their SNAP benefits last longer since shopping at the markets. Mixed logistic regression models indicated that SNAP customers were more likely to report buying and eating more FV than non-SNAP customers. CONCLUSIONS MPM are critical resources of affordable produce and have been successful in improving access to FV among individuals of low socio-economic status in RI. This case study can inform policy and programme recommendations for MPM and SNAP incentive programmes.
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Hodder RK, O'Brien KM, Tzelepis F, Wyse RJ, Wolfenden L. Interventions for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 5:CD008552. [PMID: 32449203 PMCID: PMC7273132 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008552.pub7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables in childhood increases the risk of future non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Testing the effects of interventions to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, including those focused on specific child-feeding strategies or broader multicomponent interventions targeting the home or childcare environment is required to assess the potential to reduce this disease burden. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness, cost effectiveness and associated adverse events of interventions designed to increase the consumption of fruit, vegetables or both amongst children aged five years and under. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and two clinical trials registries to identify eligible trials on 25 January 2020. We searched Proquest Dissertations and Theses in November 2019. We reviewed reference lists of included trials and handsearched three international nutrition journals. We contacted authors of included trials to identify further potentially relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials, including cluster-randomised controlled trials and cross-over trials, of any intervention primarily targeting consumption of fruit, vegetables or both among children aged five years and under, and incorporating a dietary or biochemical assessment of fruit or vegetable consumption. Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts of identified papers; a third review author resolved disagreements. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risks of bias of included trials; a third review author resolved disagreements. Due to unexplained heterogeneity, we used random-effects models in meta-analyses for the primary review outcomes where we identified sufficient trials. We calculated standardised mean differences (SMDs) to account for the heterogeneity of fruit and vegetable consumption measures. We conducted assessments of risks of bias and evaluated the quality of evidence (GRADE approach) using Cochrane procedures. MAIN RESULTS We included 80 trials with 218 trial arms and 12,965 participants. Fifty trials examined the impact of child-feeding practices (e.g. repeated food exposure) in increasing child vegetable intake. Fifteen trials examined the impact of parent nutrition education only in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. Fourteen trials examined the impact of multicomponent interventions (e.g. parent nutrition education and preschool policy changes) in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. Two trials examined the effect of a nutrition education intervention delivered to children in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. One trial examined the impact of a child-focused mindfulness intervention in increasing vegetable intake. We judged 23 of the 80 included trials as free from high risks of bias across all domains. Performance, detection and attrition bias were the most common domains judged at high risk of bias for the remaining trials. There is low-quality evidence that child-feeding practices versus no intervention may have a small positive effect on child vegetable consumption, equivalent to an increase of 5.30 grams as-desired consumption of vegetables (SMD 0.50, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.71; 19 trials, 2140 participants; mean post-intervention follow-up = 8.3 weeks). Multicomponent interventions versus no intervention has a small effect on child consumption of fruit and vegetables (SMD 0.32, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.55; 9 trials, 2961 participants; moderate-quality evidence; mean post-intervention follow-up = 5.4 weeks), equivalent to an increase of 0.34 cups of fruit and vegetables a day. It is uncertain whether there are any short-term differences in child consumption of fruit and vegetables in meta-analyses of trials examining parent nutrition education versus no intervention (SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.28; 11 trials, 3050 participants; very low-quality evidence; mean post-intervention follow-up = 13.2 weeks). We were unable to pool child nutrition education interventions in meta-analysis; both trials reported a positive intervention effect on child consumption of fruit and vegetables (low-quality evidence). Very few trials reported long-term effectiveness (6 trials), cost effectiveness (1 trial) or unintended adverse consequences of interventions (2 trials), limiting our ability to assess these outcomes. Trials reported receiving governmental or charitable funds, except for four trials reporting industry funding. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Despite identifying 80 eligible trials of various intervention approaches, the evidence for how to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption remains limited in terms of quality of evidence and magnitude of effect. Of the types of interventions identified, there was moderate-quality evidence that multicomponent interventions probably lead to, and low-quality evidence that child-feeding practice may lead to, only small increases in fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under. It is uncertain whether parent nutrition education or child nutrition education interventions alone are effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under. Our confidence in effect estimates for all intervention approaches, with the exception of multicomponent interventions, is limited on the basis of the very low to low-quality evidence. Long-term follow-up of at least 12 months is required and future research should adopt more rigorous methods to advance the field. This is a living systematic review. Living systematic reviews offer a new approach to review updating, in which the review is continually updated, incorporating relevant new evidence as it becomes available. Please refer to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for the current status of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Hodder
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- Priority Research Centre in Health and Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Kate M O'Brien
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- Priority Research Centre in Health and Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Flora Tzelepis
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- Priority Research Centre in Health and Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Wyse
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- Priority Research Centre in Health and Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- Priority Research Centre in Health and Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
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Vadiveloo MK, Guan X, Parker HW, Perraud E, Buchanan A, Atlas S, Thorndike AN. Evaluating the effect of individually-targeted food incentives on grocery purchases: The smart cart study protocol for a randomized controlled cross-over trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2020; 91:105966. [PMID: 32092439 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.105966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Health stakeholders are interested in the promise of healthy food incentives to improve dietary quality. The Smart Cart Study tested whether targeting healthful food incentives based on customer preferences and purchase history was effective for improving grocery purchase quality. DESIGN Randomized controlled crossover design of 224 adults who shopped at an independent supermarket for ≥50% of their groceries, participated in the store's loyalty program, and completed validated diet and sociodemographic/behavioral questionnaires. Participants were randomized using 1:1 blocked randomization; all participants received a 5% discount on their purchases with their loyalty card. For the first 13-weeks, the intervention group received individually-targeted weekly coupons (valued up to $10) with brief nutrition education to improve grocery purchase quality. The study team developed healthy food coupons, and the study algorithm allocated targeted coupons to participants' loyalty cards using purchase history, dietary preferences/allergies, and baseline diet quality. Control participants received weekly untargeted nutrition education and occasional generic coupons. Following a 2-4 week washout period, the two groups crossed over. The primary study outcomes were purchases of targeted products and grocery purchase quality measured using the validated Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016; the study was powered to detect a minimum 3% difference in purchase quality. CONCLUSIONS The Smart Cart Study tested a novel application of automated individually-targeted marketing using customer purchase history, dietary quality, and preferences to identify and deliver targeted incentives to improve grocery purchase quality. Future research could scale this program through collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including supermarkets, workplace wellness initiatives and insurance companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya K Vadiveloo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America.
| | - Xintong Guan
- Marketing Area, College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Haley W Parker
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Elie Perraud
- AgroParis Tech., 75231 Paris, Ile-de-France, France
| | - Ashley Buchanan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Stephen Atlas
- Marketing Area, College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- General Internal Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
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Rummo PE, Noriega D, Parret A, Harding M, Hesterman O, Elbel BE. Evaluating A USDA Program That Gives SNAP Participants Financial Incentives To Buy Fresh Produce In Supermarkets. Health Aff (Millwood) 2019; 38:1816-1823. [DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale E. Rummo
- Pasquale E. Rummo is an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, in New York City
| | - Danton Noriega
- Danton Noriega is a PhD candidate in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina
| | - Alex Parret
- Alex Parret is a PhD student in the Department of Economics, University of California Irvine
| | - Matthew Harding
- Matthew Harding is an associate professor of economics and statistics in the Department of Economics, University of California Irvine
| | - Oran Hesterman
- Oran Hesterman is CEO of the Fair Food Network, in Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brian E. Elbel
- Brian E. Elbel is an associate professor of population health and health policy in the Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine and New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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