How community programs and food environments affect children's diets and health disparities
Official title: The role of the contextual food environment and community programs and policies on diet and dietary disparities in the national Healthy Communities Study
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10893600 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the places where kids live and community programs can affect what they eat, especially for Black, Hispanic, and low-income children, to find out what works best to help them eat healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $123,733 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HL170240-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893600 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 0-11 years, particularly those from Black/African American and Hispanic backgrounds or low socio-economic status.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not fall within the specified age range or racial/ethnic backgrounds may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the food environment and community programs influence the diets of children, particularly focusing on Black/African American and Hispanic children, as well as those from low socio-economic backgrounds. By analyzing data from over 4,500 children across 130 communities, the study aims to identify effective community programs and policies that can improve dietary habits. The research utilizes existing datasets to explore the relationship between community characteristics and children's dietary outcomes, providing insights into how different environments impact health. The goal is to understand which interventions work best in various contexts to help reduce dietary disparities among children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary habits among children, particularly in underserved communities, ultimately reducing health disparities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown varying success in community programs aimed at improving dietary habits, but this study seeks to provide a more comprehensive national perspective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colabianchi, Natalie — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Colabianchi, Natalie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.