Multilevel Mediators on the Associations of Neighborhood Social Environmental Factors and Severity of Metabolic Syndrome: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Neighborhood characteristics serve as risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the intermediary factors linking this relationship remain understudied. Thus, we investigated the sex-specific mediating role of C-reactive protein, physical activity (PA), and perceived stress in the associations of perceived neighborhood social environment (PNSE) with MetS severity among Black adults.

SchoolHEAT: Racial and Ethnic Inequity in School Temperature.

Exposure to high environmental temperature is detrimental to health through multiple pathways. This paper describes disparities in school-based high-temperature exposure at metropolitan schools in the United States. Using school location and sociodemographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics, neighborhood data from the US Census Bureau, and land surface temperature (LST) data from the Aqua Earth-observing satellite mission, we find that for every 10% more Black or Hispanic residents in the neighborhood, schools have LST 0.

Shift work domains and their interactions with empty calorie food/beverage consumption: A 14-day intensive longitudinal study.

Background/objectives: Shift work has been linked to unhealthy eating behaviors such as imbalanced diet, or increased empty calorie food/beverage consumption. However, most research has focused on the impact of shift timing. The concept of shift work is complex, and it contains several domains such as shift timing, intensity, and speed.

County-level associations between food retailer availability and violent crime rate.

Background: Violent crime (i.e., homicide, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and rape) continues to be a major public health concern in America.

Environmental data and methods from the Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (ADOPT) core measures environmental working group.

This article describes geospatial datasets and exemplary data across five environmental domains (walkability, socioeconomic deprivation, urbanicity, personal safety, and food outlet accessibility). The environmental domain is one of four domains (behavioral, biological, environmental and psychosocial) in which the Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict obesity Treatment (ADOPT) Core Measures Project suggested measures to help explain variation in responses to weight loss interventions. These data are intended to facilitate additional research on potential environmental moderators of responses to weight loss, physical activity, or diet related interventions.

Active living-oriented zoning codes and cardiometabolic conditions across the lifespan.

Environments that make it easier for people to incorporate physical activity into their daily life may help to reduce high rates of cardiometabolic conditions. Local zoning codes are a policy and planning tool to create more walkable and bikeable environments. This study evaluated relationships between active living-oriented zoning code environments and cardiometabolic conditions (body mass index, hyperlipidemia, hypertension).

The Use of Food Images and Crowdsourcing to Capture Real-time Eating Behaviors: Acceptability and Usability Study.

Background: As poor diet quality is a significant risk factor for multiple noncommunicable diseases prevalent in the United States, it is important that methods be developed to accurately capture eating behavior data. There is growing interest in the use of ecological momentary assessments to collect data on health behaviors and their predictors on a micro timescale (at different points within or across days); however, documenting eating behaviors remains a challenge.

Objective: This pilot study (N=48) aims to examine the feasibility-usability and acceptability-of using smartphone-captured and crowdsource-labeled images to document eating behaviors in real time.

Observed physical activity among Latinx and White men and women on a new urban trail.

Objective: Despite efforts to increase physical activity through new green space infrastructure such as trails, disparities in physical activity may persist. The current study compared observed vigorous physical activity (VPA) engagement among White and Latinx men and women on a new urban trail, and whether engagement varied over time.

Design, Sample, And Measures: We used a modified System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) methodology to determine observed race/ethnicity, gender, and physical activity level of trail users (n = 15,109).

Access to pharmacies and pharmacy services in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, 2015-2020.

Background: Despite the importance of pharmacies in ensuring medications and health care needs are met, there is limited up-to-date information regarding access to pharmacies or their services in the United States.

Objectives: To evaluate trends and disparities in access to pharmacies in 4 largest cities in the United States, New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago, by neighborhood racial and ethnic composition from 2015 to 2020.

Methods: Data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (2015-2020) and the American Community Survey (2015-2019) were used.

Examining changes to food and beverage availability and marketing in a low-income community after the opening of a new supermarket.

Objective: In 2016, a Whole Foods Market© opened in the Englewood community of Chicago, IL - a predominately low-income African American community. This study aimed to examine changes to food and beverage availability and marketing in Englewood's existing food stores after the opening of this supermarket.

Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Geospatial Analysis of Neighborhood Environmental Stress in Relation to Biological Markers of Cardiovascular Health and Health Behaviors in Women: Protocol for a Pilot Study.

Background: Innovative analyses of cardiovascular (CV) risk markers and health behaviors linked to neighborhood stressors are essential to further elucidate the mechanisms by which adverse neighborhood social conditions lead to poor CV outcomes. We propose to objectively measure physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and neighborhood stress using accelerometers, GPS, and real-time perceived ecological momentary assessment via smartphone apps and to link these to biological measures in a sample of White and African American women in Washington, DC, neighborhoods.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that living in adverse neighborhood social conditions is associated with higher stress-related neural activity among 60 healthy women living in high or low socioeconomic status neighborhoods in Washington, DC.

Fewer Pharmacies In Black And Hispanic/Latino Neighborhoods Compared With White Or Diverse Neighborhoods, 2007-15.

The accessibility of pharmacies may be an overlooked contributor to persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the use of prescription medications and essential health care services within urban areas in the US. We examined the availability and geographic accessibility of pharmacies across neighborhoods based on their racial/ethnic composition in the thirty most populous US cities. In all cities examined, we found persistently fewer pharmacies located in Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods than White or diverse neighborhoods throughout 2007-15.

Associations between Daily Work Hassles and Energy-Balance Behaviors in Female African American Workers: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Objective: Despite their high rate of labor force participation, African American women earn less and are overrepresented in service jobs that tend to have fewer benefits, longer work hours, and less flexibility. The aim of our study was to examine associations between work-related daily hassles and energy balance behaviors among female African American workers.

Design: A secondary analysis of a 7-day intensive longitudinal study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

No long-term store marketing changes following sugar-sweetened beverage tax implementation: Oakland, California.

Globally, more than 45 countries have implemented sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes; however, little is known about effects on marketing practices. For the 2017 Oakland, California, 1 cent per ounce SSB tax, this study evaluated long-term changes in beverage price promotions, depth of sale, and interior and exterior advertising at stores, collected via in-person audits at two time points (pre-tax and 24-months post-tax). Overall, based on difference-in-differences estimation, relative to the comparison site, no significant pre-post tax changes were found in the odds of price promotions, exterior or interior advertising, or sale depth for SSBs or untaxed beverages.

Neighborhood Food Environment and Health Outcomes in U.S. Low-Socioeconomic Status, Racial/Ethnic Minority, and Rural Populations: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: This review examined associations between the neighborhood food environment and health outcomes in populations with the highest obesity rates in the United States: people of low-socioeconomic status (SES), racial/ethnic minorities, and rural residents.

Methods: We searched multiple databases using preselected search terms through June 2017. Forty-three sources met criteria of peer-reviewed U.

A Model Depicting the Retail Food Environment and Customer Interactions: Components, Outcomes, and Future Directions.

The retail food environment (RFE) has important implications for dietary intake and health, and dramatic changes in RFEs have been observed over the past few decades and years. Prior conceptual models of the RFE and its relationships with health and behavior have played an important role in guiding research; yet, the convergence of RFE changes and scientific advances in the field suggest the time is ripe to revisit this conceptualization. In this paper, we propose the Retail Food Environment and Customer Interaction Model to convey the evolving variety of factors and relationships that convene to influence food choice at the point of purchase.

Did Playground Renovations Equitably Benefit Neighborhoods in Chicago?

Between 2013 and 2016, the Chicago Park District renovated 327 playgrounds in need of repair across Chicago through a $44 million investment. This study evaluated whether short-term and longer-term impacts of renovations on park use and park-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) differed by neighborhood income level and neighborhood concentration of Black residents. A total of 39 parks with renovated playgrounds and 39 matched comparison parks with playgrounds that needed repair but not selected for renovation in year 1 were studied.

Associations of the consumer food environment with eating behaviours and BMI.

Objective: To examine cross-sectional associations of four aspects of the consumer food environment - price, availability, marketing and product placement - with BMI and fruit and vegetable intake.

Design: This cross-sectional study measured the consumer food environment using grocery store audits and surveys. Outcomes were measured through surveys and physical exams.

Development of a Predictive Algorithm to Identify Adults With Mobility Limitations Using VA Health Care Administrative Data.

An estimated 31.5 million Americans have a mobility limitation. Health care administrative data could be a valuable resource for research on this population but methods for cohort identification are lacking.