Food and Physical Activity Environment in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region: The Children's Healthy Living Program

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the quality of food and physical activity (PA) environments by World Bank Income level in jurisdictions from the Children's Healthy Living Program. DesignBaseline cross-sectional community data were analyzed from 11 jurisdictions categorized by World Bank Income levels to describe exposure to different food and PA outlets. The Children's Healthy Living Program was a multilevel, multijurisdictional prevalence study and community intervention trial that reduced child obesity in the US-Affiliated Pacific region. SettingUS-Affiliated Pacific region. ParticipantsFood (n = 426) and PA (n = 552) Outlets. Main Outcome MeasuresPhysical activity and food scores that reflect the quality of the outlets that support being physically active and healthy eating options, respectively. AnalysisDescriptive statistics are presented as means ± SD or percentages. ResultsHigh-income-income level jurisdictions had higher food and PA scores than middle-income level jurisdictions. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe US-Affiliated Pacific region has limited quality food and PA outlets in underserved communities at risk for obesity. The findings in this paper can be used to develop tools and design interventions to improve the food and PA environment to increase a healthier, active lifestyle.