title: Balancing act: approaches to healthy eating and physical activity among Boston public housing residents.
abstract: Boston public housing residents are more likely to report fair or poor health status, been diagnosed with obesity, and to be physically inactive compared with other Boston residents (Digenis-Bury, Brooks, Chen, Ostrem, & Horsburgh, 2008 ). Little is known about perceptions of and opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity in this population. We conducted eight focus groups at public housing developments to explore residents' views regarding opportunities and barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. Sixty-seven English- and Spanish-speaking residents participated. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. All residents described the challenge of balancing considerations of food quality, access, and affordability. Other findings included underutilized nutritional resources; abundant availability of unhealthy food; and economic and structural barriers to exercise. Transportation-related challenges were a dominant theme. Building opportunities for physical activity and providing access to affordable and quality food choices may be important interventions for promoting health among public housing residents.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental Health , Boston University School of Public Health , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Madeleine Kangsen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Scammell
authors.forename: Shioban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wayman
authors.forename: Nechama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001290:Attitude; D001900:Boston; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011638:Public Housing; D044465:White People
keywords: environmental justice; focus groups; food access; health disparities; interviews; physical activity; public housing