Oral

Access to fresh food is important to the physical health of community residents. East Los Angeles has been characterized as a “food desert,” where residents have poor access to fresh produce and other foods recommended for a healthful and balanced diet. An urban, mostly Latino population, East L.A. residents suffer from high rates of obesity-related chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. While food access could be improved by helping existing corner store retailers expand their selection of healthy food options, comprehensively addressing diet-related disparities requires a multi-level approach. The UCLA/USC Center for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD), with funding from National Institutes of Health, is actively engaged in a community-based participatory approach to implementing an intensive home- plus neighborhood environment intervention. The home-environment intervention includes re-engineering homes to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, decrease intake of high-sodium and processed foods, and reduce television watching. The neighborhood environment intervention involves re-engineering four corner market stores—a common venue for food purchases for many in this community—to help them market and provide healthier food options and guide community members toward healthy eating. While healthy home makeovers and corner store conversion projects are increasingly popular, examining the practical steps to making such conversions work and documenting the impact these conversions have on community health outcomes are an understudied facet of current public health disparities and intervention research.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe community involvement in the design and implementation of the corner store and the complementary home intervention projects to reduce cardiovascular disease risk; 2. Explain the process of selecting and ‘making over’ corner stores, cultivating community demand for healthy food access and consumption, and re-engineering the home to support more healthful choices; and 3. Discuss how promotores can coach household members to become advocates at home and in the community for environments more supportive of consuming high-nutrient, high-satiation foods.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)