Rebuilding a Los Angeles public housing neighborhood to promote healthier weights and habits
Redeveloping Low-Income Communities Of Color: Impacts On Residents' Obesity And Related Health Behaviors
Researchers will follow residents of the Rancho San Pedro housing community during a major redevelopment to learn if new parks, safer streets, and cleaner air help people have healthier weights and daily habits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089422 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in Rancho San Pedro, researchers will collect health information like weight, BMI, breathing problems, and daily behaviors before, during, and after the neighborhood is rebuilt. They will measure neighborhood features such as green space, walkability, food access, safety, and air pollution and link those to residents' health over time. The project uses the real-world redevelopment as a 'natural experiment' and compares changes for Rancho residents with people in nearby neighborhoods. Data will come from surveys, physical measurements, and environmental monitoring rather than changing anyone's medical care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who currently live in the Rancho San Pedro public housing community (and nearby comparison neighborhoods) who can answer surveys and attend health measurements.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the affected neighborhoods or cannot take part in follow-up visits will not directly benefit from this observational project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could show that housing and neighborhood improvements lead to healthier weights, less asthma and diabetes risk, and better daily habits for residents.
How similar studies have performed: Some past neighborhood-change and green-space studies have found links to more activity and better health, but results are mixed, so this large redevelopment offers a clearer chance to see real effects.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shier, Victoria — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Shier, Victoria
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.