Dr. Carmen Nevarez, Public Health Institute
“Evaluation of the Impact of a Menu-Labeling Program (La Salud Tiene Sabor) in South L.A.”
This Salud America! pilot research project is evaluating the Salud Tiene Sabor program. Salud Tiene Sabor, the first program of its kind in California, supports healthy food choices in restaurants by providing access to healthy menu items and nutrition information, including calories posted on menu boards. In collaboration with Esperanza Community Housing Corporation and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, seven independent restaurants have implemented the Sabor program at Mercado La Paloma, a community marketplace with restaurants, shops, social services and cultural events in South Los Angeles that serves primarily Latino residents. The study's evaluation team is assessing the impact the Sabor program is having on consumers’ purchase intentions, vendor practices and sales, replication by other venues, and the effect the California menu labeling law has on these independent restaurants.
Presentation at Project Start: 2009
Presentation at Project End: 2011
Research Brief: 2011
Dr. Norma Olvera, University of Houston
“From Mothers to Daughters: A Physical Activity Dosage Intervention to Impact Adiposity”
This Salud America! pilot research project assesses the immediate and long-term impact the Behavior Opportunities Uniting in Nutrition, Counseling, and Exercise (BOUNCE) program has on indicators of adiposity, or obesity: body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference and body fat percentage. The study also assessed the impact of the program on minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among overweight Latina girls. Mother-daughter pairs enrolled in BOUNCE participated in a four-week healthy lifestyle summer program, followed by a 12-week, family-based aerobic program and four monthly peer-led sessions.
Presentation at Project Start: 2009
Presentation at Project End: 2011
Research Brief: 2011
Dr. Javier Rosado, Florida State University
“A Measurement of Obesity: BMI Screenings Across Two Settings”
This Salud America! pilot research project assesses how much weight-related medical attention children receive during well-child checkups at a pediatric community health center in a rural, predominantly Latino, migrant farm-worker community. Using structured interviews, parents were asked immediately after the well-child visit to assess: 1) if their child’s weight was discussed by the physician; 2) parents’ awareness of and agreement with weight-related information, when provided; 3) family perceptions of what is considered overweight and any gender-based differences in those perceptions; and 4) family interest in influencing their child’s weight, and what they would need to do so. Parents of children ages 3-16 were invited to participate.
Presentation at Project Start: 2009
Presentation at Project End: 2011
Research Brief: 2011
Dr. Emma Sanchez, San Fransisco State University
“Informing Latino Childhood Obesity Prevention: The Role of Physical Education Policies in California”
This Salud America! pilot research project uses existing data to investigate whether school district compliance with California physical education (P.E.) requirements influences fitness among the state’s Latino/Hispanic children. The study combined four sources of data: school district compliance with P.E. policies, children’s data from Fitnessgram for the school years 2004–06, California Department of Education data on district and school characteristics, and U.S. Census data. Our sample included 60,817 5th grade Latino/Hispanic students across 55 school districts. The study examined the characteristics of children by comparing children that attended schools in districts that complied with California P.E. requirements to children that attended schools in districts that did not comply with the policies. The study then conducted analyses to determine whether compliance with P.E. policies influenced Latino/Hispanic children’s fitness levels, after taking into account individual, school and district factors which might influence links between district-level policy compliance and fitness.
Presentation at Project Start: 2009
Presentation at Project End: 2011
Research Brief: 2011
