Aetna Foundation announces over $1 million for research on root causes of obesity epidemic

Feb 23 2011

The Aetna Foundation today announced significant funding in support of five research studies designed to deepen understanding of the root causes of the nation's well-documented obesity epidemic and drive viable solutions to the core problems. More than $1 million in funding will be granted in support of separate studies at New York University School of Medicine, Boston University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University's CARE program.

"While on its surface, the nation's obesity epidemic appears simple - we consume too many calories and don't get enough exercise - the issue is far more complex and the data available on what drives these unhealthy behaviors, particularly in urban, poor or minority communities, is scant," said Anne C. Beal, MD, MPH, president of the Aetna Foundation. "To help build the knowledge base and support development of effective policies that will foster healthier communities and a healthier nation, we are supporting these key research projects. These studies will consider issues such as the availability of broad food choices and the pricing of food, as well as the impact these factors have on individual food choices. The studies also will look at the role of our neighborhoods - and the impact of what is or isn't in the 'built environment' where we live, work and play-- on population health and weight loss."

Details on the grants announced today are as follows:

• $250,000 to New York University School of Medicine for a two-year study of the impact of the introduction of supermarkets through tax credits and other incentives in areas that are classified as "food deserts." This study will examine the impact of the introduction of a supermarket on the local food environment in the Bronx, as well as the corresponding impact it may have on healthy eating habits of residents in local communities in the area, which include large Latino and African-American populations. The study will collect data on the eating patterns of 2,000 adults who are racially and ethnically diverse. Encouraging the introduction of supermarkets in food deserts through tax credits and other incentives is a growing strategy to address the problem of food deserts in some communities, but there is little data to support the effectiveness of this approach. Researchers at NYU hope to provide this critical insight to help shape federal, state and local policies.
• $233,000 to Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center for a two-year study of factors that influence obesity among African-American women, including both individual and neighborhood-level factors, and the identification of the most effective small changes individuals can make to decrease obesity rates among African-American women. Data from more than 20,000 participants in the ongoing Black Women's Health Study will be examined, including diet and exercise patterns, psychosocial stressors, and the neighborhood environment where the women live. Researchers hope to identify small, actionable changes women can take to reduce weight gain, and acquire evidence that will lead to policy and institutional level changes that can impact weight gain and obesity, such as neighborhood safety and walkability and grocery store accessibility.
• $248,000 to the University of Michigan for a two-year study of how the built environment in an urban setting - in this case Detroit - may influence the risk of obesity among residents. The study seeks to identify specific features of the built and social environments that can be influenced to reduce racial and ethnic inequalities in obesity and related morbidity and mortality. The findings could inform the development of interventions and policies to promote health in urban communities. The study will bring together an interdisciplinary team of health researchers, urban planners, health service providers and community representatives and will build upon existing data sets compiled by the Healthy Environments Partnership.
• $250,000 to the University of Pennsylvania's African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network for a one-year study of how variations in food prices influence food and beverage purchases among African-American women. The project will study the typical food shopping patterns in a sample of African-American women and seek to understand how food prices influence those patterns. Price variations for selected products at grocery stores within a defined geographical area will be analyzed in conjunction with data obtained from study participants to determine how price fits in with other considerations such as convenience and quantity when purchasing foods and beverages. Researchers hope to assess the potential for adjustments to food prices for high calorie-low nutrient foods and beverages to discourage their consumption and encourage the purchasing of healthier alternatives.
• $150,000 to the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) at Yale University for a study of the role of the neighborhood environment on childhood obesity risk factors and health outcomes. This study will look at a variety of built environment factors in six low-income, predominately minority neighborhoods in New Haven, as well as those factors closer to schools to see which of these might have a greater influence on the children's body mass index, diet and exercise. The study will also look at whether environmental factors have different effects on adults versus children.

The Aetna Foundation remains committed to targeted grant-making in three major areas which include addressing the rising incidence of obesity among U.S. residents, including children; promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care for common chronic conditions and infant mortality; and advancing integrated health care, by improving coordination and communications among health care professionals, creating informed and involved patients, and promoting cost-effective, affordable care.

SOURCE Aetna Foundation