Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health
Published on: December 1, 2023
Effects of Proximity to Supermarkets on a Randomized Trial Studying Interventions for Obesity
Lauren Fiechtner1, Ken Kleinman1, Steven J Melly1
1Lauren Fiechtner, Mona Sharifi, and Elsie M. Taveras are with the Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston. Erika R. Cheng is with the Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. Ken Kleinman and Jason Block are with the Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston. Steven J. Melly is with the Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. Richard Marshall is with the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston.
Insights
Living closer to supermarkets improved obesity intervention outcomes for children. Shorter distances correlated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and better weight status.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Environmental factors, such as food accessibility, may influence intervention effectiveness.
- Understanding these modifiers is crucial for optimizing obesity treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if proximity to a supermarket influences the outcomes of a pediatric obesity intervention.
- To assess the role of supermarket access as an effect modifier in childhood obesity treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 498 children (aged 6-12 years) with obesity participated in a trial.
- Interventions included decision support, behavior change, or health coaching.
- Distance to the nearest supermarket was analyzed as an effect modifier for changes in BMI z-score, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and fruit/vegetable intake over one year.
Main Results:
- Supermarket proximity modified the intervention's effect on BMI z-score and fruit/vegetable intake.
- Each mile closer to a supermarket was associated with a 0.29 serving/day increase in fruit/vegetable intake.
- Each mile closer to a supermarket was associated with a -0.04 unit decrease in BMI z-score.
Conclusions:
- Living nearer to supermarkets is linked to enhanced outcomes in pediatric obesity interventions.
- Greater access to supermarkets may facilitate healthier dietary changes and weight management in children undergoing obesity treatment.
Objectives:
To determine whether proximity to a supermarket modified the effects of an obesity intervention.
Methods:
We examined 498 children aged 6 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile participating in an obesity trial in Massachusetts in 2011 to 2013. The practice-based interventions included computerized clinician decision support plus family self-guided behavior change or health coaching. Outcomes were 1-year change in BMI z-score, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. We examined distance to the closest supermarket as an effect modifier.
Results:
Distance to supermarkets was an effect modifier of 1-year change in BMI z-score and fruit and vegetable intake but not sugar-sweetened beverage intake. With each 1-mile shorter distance to a supermarket, intervention participants increased their fruit and vegetable intake by 0.29 servings per day and decreased their BMI z-score by -0.04 units relative to controls.
Conclusions:
Living closer to a supermarket is associated with greater improvements in fruit and vegetable intake and weight status in an obesity intervention.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
02:01Factorial Design
01:12What is an Experiment?
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
01:20Study Designs in Epidemiology
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...