Investigating how unhealthy food environments affect parents' shopping and children's diets.
Are Food Swamps Linked to Disparities in Ethnically Diverse Parents' Food Shopping Behaviors & Young Children's Diets?: Implications for Policy & Environmental Interventions
This study is looking at how living in areas with few healthy food choices affects how parents shop for food and what their young kids eat, especially for families from different backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10909903 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of food swamp environments—areas with limited access to healthy food options—on the shopping behaviors of ethnically diverse parents and the diets of their young children. By using a community-based participatory approach, the study will assess food environments in various neighborhoods and gather insights from parents about their shopping habits and children's food preferences. The research will involve both objective assessments of local food stores and surveys with parents to understand their experiences and perceptions regarding food access. The goal is to identify the links between these environments and dietary disparities among children aged 2 to 5 years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are ethnically diverse parents with children aged 2 to 5 years living in socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have young children or who live in areas with adequate access to healthy food options may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved policies and interventions that promote healthier food environments, ultimately benefiting children's diets and reducing obesity disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that addressing food environment disparities can lead to improved dietary habits, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooksey Stowers, Kristen — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Cooksey Stowers, Kristen
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 below.