title: Results from an intervention to improve rural home food and physical activity environments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ecological models of healthy eating and physical activity emphasize the influence of behavioral settings such as homes and worksites in shaping behavior. Research on home environments suggests that both social and physical aspects of the home may impact physical activity and healthy eating.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, the Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC), Cancer Coalition of South Georgia, and the EPRC's Community Advisory Board (CAB) designed and tested a coach-based intervention to make the home environment more supportive of healthy eating and physical activity for rural adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 6-week intervention consisted of a tailored home environment profile, goal-setting, and behavioral contracting delivered through two home visits and two telephone calls. The study used a quasi-experimental design with data collected via telephone interviews at baseline, 2 and 4 months post-baseline. Ninety households (n = 90) completed all three telephone interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multilevel models indicated that intervention households reported significant improvements in household food inventories, purchasing of fruit and vegetables, healthier meal preparation, meals with the TV off, and family support for healthy eating, relative to comparison households. Intervention households also reported increased exercise equipment and family support for physical activity relative to comparison households. Percent of fat intake decreased significantly, but no changes were observed for fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, or weight among intervention relative to comparison households, although trends were generally in a positive direction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coaching combined with a focus on the home environment may be a promising strategy for weight gain prevention in adults.
authors.affiliation: Emory Prevention Research Center, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University Research Center (EPRC), Cancer Coalition of South Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kegler
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Veluswamy
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haardörfer
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hotz
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D005845:Georgia; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013690:Television