Description of Collaborative Activity: |
The Healthy Communities Study is an observational study of communities conducted over five years that aims to (1) determine the associations between community programs/policies and Body Mass Index (BMI), diet, and physical activity in children; (2) identify the community, family, child factors that modify or mediate the associations between community programs/policies and BMI, diet, and physical activity in children, and (3) assess the associations between program/policies and BMI, diet, and physical activity in children in communities that have a high proportion of African American, Latino, and/or low income residents. Over 200 communities and about 20,000 elementary and middle school aged children and their parents will be part of the HCS. A HCS community is defined as a high school catchment area. Data will be collected on 81 children within each community (9 children per grade). The study examines quantitative and qualitative information obtained from community-based initiatives, community characteristics (e.g., school environment), and from child and parent assessments and measurements of children’s physical activity levels, dietary practices of children, and children’s and parent’s BMI. This study is not designed to evaluate any one specific program, policy or community, but will instead systematically assess if components or characteristics of representative programs/policies in communities across the country are related to BMI, diet, and physical activity in children. |
NIH Participating Institutes/Centers/Office of the Director: |
NCI, NHLBI, NICHD, NIDDK, OD/DPCPSI/OBSSR |
