title: The Healthy Communities Study Nutrition Assessments: Child Diet and the School Nutrition Environment.
abstract: Multifaceted community interventions directed at improving food environments are emerging, but their impact on dietary change and obesity prevalence has not been adequately documented. The Healthy Communities Study (HCS) is seeking to identify characteristics and combinations of programs and policies that are associated with children's diets and obesity-related outcomes in various types of communities across the U.S. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods used in 2013-2015 in the HCS to assess dietary intake, school nutrition environments, and other nutrition-related behaviors. The conceptual framework of the HCS is based on the socioecological model and behaviors shown in previous studies to be related to obesity in children guided selection of domains. Nine domains were identified as essential measures of nutrition in the HCS: (1) intake of selected foods and beverages; (2) food patterns and behaviors; (3) social support; (4) home environment; (5) school environment; (6) community environment; (7) breastfeeding history; (8) household food insecurity; and (9) dieting behaviors and body image. Children's dietary intake was assessed using a dietary screener and up to two automated 24-hour recalls. Dietary-related behaviors were assessed by a survey administered to the parent, child, or both, depending on child age. School nutrition measures were obtained from a combination of school staff surveys and researcher observations. Information from these measures is expected to contribute to a better understanding of "what is working" to improve the dietary behaviors that are likely to prevent obesity and improve health in children.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, California; Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California. Electronic address: lritchie@ucanr.edu.
authors.forename: Lorrene D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wakimoto
authors.affiliation: Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Woodward-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Frances E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Dawn K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Patricia B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools