Examining the impact of an environmental and policy change obesity prevention approach on parents' perceptions of the food and physical activity environment: The HEAC survey of parents residing in six low-income CA communities

Purpose: Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) worked in six low-income California communities to improve food/physical activity environments. Surveys conducted with parents assessed perceptions of neighborhood environments and support for polices to improve access to healthy foods/physical activity. Methods: Surveys were conducted via telephone (English and Spanish) with a sample of parents residing in each of the HEAC communities. The HEAC survey was conducted twice, in 2006 and 2010. In 2006, 741 interviews were completed; 820 interviews were completed in 2010. Roughly equal numbers of interviews were completed in each HEAC community. Results: Between 2006 and 2010, there were increases in the proportion of parents viewing unhealthy eating as a top health risk for kids and identifying obesity as a community rather than an individual problem. In 2010, more parents rated schools as good to excellent in helping students to be healthy (48% versus 40% in 2006), while more respondents in 2010 reported that it was not easy to find safe places for activity (56%) or healthy food (49%) in their neighborhood. Survey respondents' support for nutrition/physical activity policies grew, with 80% supporting a soda tax and 86% supporting government assistance to locate supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods in 2010. Conclusion: Results from the HEAC survey describe the impact of an environmental and policy change obesity prevention approach on parents' perceptions of neighborhood environments and support for policy change strategies. Survey findings reveal perceived improvements in some sectors and declines in others, while support for policies to address nutrition/physical activity increased.