Programs and Projects
The CNP Programs and Projects Research Category explores programs and projects used within the field. To view each original study on the open internet, click “Original.” To view the CNP-written abstract summary, click “CNP Summary.” While only some of the CNP-written abstract summaries are available below for free, all abstract summaries are available to CNP members through the CNP Library Membership.
Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) as part of a healthy diet may help decrease the odds of suffering from chronic diseases, however, most Western populations fail to achieve dietary recommendations, particularly at lower income levels. Efforts need to be directed to establish cost-effective and practical methods to tackle the environmental and personal factors related to F&V consumption. In this study by Gans et al. (2018), the authors bring forth the results of a cluster randomized controlled trial investigating the 'Live Well, Viva Bien' (LWVB), a multifaceted intervention that combines discounted, mobile, fresh F&V markets and nutritional education. The LWVB intervention targeted 15 subsidized housing locations (8 intervention [n = 837] and 7 control locations [n = 760], 54% Hispanic, 73% women, 17% black, mean age = 54 years), presenting them with either mobile F&V markets plus nutrition education (through campaigns, newsletters, DVDs, recipes and chef demonstrations) at intervention locations, or with physical activity and stress interventions at the control locations. F&V consumption was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute's 'Eating at America's Table All Day Screener', and study participants were followed up at 6 and 12 months. Analysis of the results revealed a significant increase of F&V consumption and F&V-related dietary behaviors in the intervention group, and a concomitant decrease of F&V consumption in the control group. In addition, participants who attended more F&V markets reported a significantly higher likelihood to consume more F&V, and that the nutrition education components (namely DVDs, recipes, and taste-testing) led to enhancing F&V consumption. In conclusion, the authors comment on how the LWVB intervention showcased the impact of year-round F&V markets on dietary intake in low-income adults, and hence the importance of mobile F&V markets. Furthermore, the results provide evidence to aid environmental change initiatives and help ameliorate F&V consumption and dietary-related health disparities.
2023
Impact of produce prescriptions on diet, food security, and cardiometabolic health outcomes: A multisite evaluation of 9 produce prescription programs in the United States
Produce prescriptions may increase fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and decrease food insecurity, which may enhance cardiometabolic health. However, their effects on clinical outcomes and health status have not been studied in extensive, multisite studies. Individual-level data from 22 produce prescription sites throughout 12 US states from 2014 to 2020 were used in this multisite, pre- and post-evaluation by Hager et al. (2023). 2064 adults aged 18 or older and 1817 children between the ages of 2 and 17 who had, or were at risk for, poor cardiometabolic health from clinics that served low-income neighborhoods were included in the study. Programs offered cash incentives (median: $63/month; duration: 4–10 months) to encourage consumers to buy fruits and vegetables at supermarkets or farmers' markets. Intake of F&V, food security, and self-reported health were all evaluated by surveys. Clinics examined blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, body mass index (BMI), and BMI z-score. Following a median involvement of 6 months, analysis of the results revealed that the daily consumption of F&V rose in adults and children by 0.85 and 0.26 cups, respectively. For both adults and children, the likelihood of food insecurity decreased by one-third, and an increase in the likelihood that self-reported health status would be improved by one level. Glycated hemoglobin dropped by 0.29% age points in people with glycated hemoglobin below 6.5%; systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell by 8.38 mm Hg and 4.94 mm Hg, respectively; and BMI decreased by 0.36 kg/m2 in adults with overweight or obesity. BMI z-scores, however, did not show any changes. The authors concluded that producing prescriptions were found to significantly improve adults' and children's food security, F&V intake, and health status, as well as show clinically significant improvements in blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and BMI in adults with poor cardiometabolic health. [NPID: Diet, nutrition, fruits, vegetables, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, adults, children, BMI, food security]
CNP Research Summary can be found in the CNP Library Membership
2018
Multilevel approaches to increase fruit and vegetable intake in low-income housing communities: Final results of the 'Live Well, Viva Bien' cluster-randomized trial
Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) as part of a healthy diet may help decrease the odds of suffering from chronic diseases, however, most Western populations fail to achieve dietary recommendations, particularly at lower income levels. Efforts need to be directed to establish cost-effective and practical methods to tackle the environmental and personal factors related to F&V consumption. In this study by Gans et al. (2018), the authors bring forth the results of a cluster randomized controlled trial investigating the 'Live Well, Viva Bien' (LWVB), a multifaceted intervention that combines discounted, mobile, fresh F&V markets and nutritional education. The LWVB intervention targeted 15 subsidized housing locations (8 intervention [n = 837] and 7 control locations [n = 760], 54% Hispanic, 73% women, 17% black, mean age = 54 years), presenting them with either mobile F&V markets plus nutrition education (through campaigns, newsletters, DVDs, recipes and chef demonstrations) at intervention locations, or with physical activity and stress interventions at the control locations. F&V consumption was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute's 'Eating at America's Table All Day Screener', and study participants were followed up at 6 and 12 months. Analysis of the results revealed a significant increase of F&V consumption and F&V-related dietary behaviors in the intervention group, and a concomitant decrease of F&V consumption in the control group. In addition, participants who attended more F&V markets reported a significantly higher likelihood to consume more F&V, and that the nutrition education components (namely DVDs, recipes, and taste-testing) led to enhancing F&V consumption. In conclusion, the authors comment on how the LWVB intervention showcased the impact of year-round F&V markets on dietary intake in low-income adults, and hence the importance of mobile F&V markets. Furthermore, the results provide evidence to aid environmental change initiatives and help ameliorate F&V consumption and dietary-related health disparities. [NPID: Diet, farmer’s market, fruit and vegetable, mobile market, nutrition education, housing, community, food environment, nutrition, food access]
2015
Food Rx: A community-university partnership to prescribe healthy eating on the south side of Chicago
Diabetic residents of underserved communities encounter substantial difficulty in maintaining a healthy diet. This vulnerable population requires supportive community measures as a part of the existing healthcare interventions, for example, a potential “prescription” of healthy foods that could encourage behavior change, healthy dietary education, or by providing financial incentives or access to locally available resources. In this work by Goddu et al. (2015), the authors present “Food Rx” — a novel food prescription developed through a consortium of a university research team, a pharmacy store chain, a local farmers market, and six healthcare centers. The authors share their experience from implementing this novel program, describing the contributions made by each consortium member, organizational concerns, and healthcare clinic workflow needs. The authors comment that Food Rx shows early potential as a framework for bringing together available community and healthcare resources to support vulnerable patient populations. [NPID: Diabetes, disparities, nutrition, community, behavioral prescription]