title: Development and implementation of Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones: a youth-targeted intervention to improve the urban food environment.
abstract: Poor accessibility to affordable healthy foods is associated with higher rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. We present our process evaluation of a youth-targeted environmental intervention (Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones) that aimed to increase the availability of healthy foods and promote these foods through signage, taste tests and other interactive activities in low-income Baltimore City. Trained peer educators reinforced program messages. Dose, fidelity and reach-as measured by food stocking, posting of print materials, distribution of giveaways and number of interactions with community members-were collected in six recreation centers and 21 nearby corner stores and carryouts. Participating stores stocked promoted foods and promotional print materials with moderate fidelity. Interactive sessions were implemented with high reach and dose among both adults and youth aged 10-14 years, with more than 4000 interactions. Recreation centers appear to be a promising location to interact with low-income youth and reinforce exposure to messages.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. jgittels@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dennisuk
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Roshni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhimani
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Eleanore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Anastasia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coutinho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000329:Advertising; D001741:Black or African American; D015142:Baltimore; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D019649:Food Industry / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005523:Food Supply; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019370:Observation; D010379:Peer Group; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040241:Social Marketing; D014504:Urban Health