Latest Articles
![]() Migraine Associated With Increased Risk of Cardiovascular DiseaseAccording to research, women who have migraines with aura could be more likely to... |
![]() Insomnia and Short Sleep Duration Associated With Increased Mortality RiskAccording to research, men with insomnia and sleep duration of six or fewer hours... |
![]() Walnut Consumption Significantly Decreases LDL CholesterolResearchers have found that high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the... |
![]() Dietary Fat Linked to Pancreatic CancerAccording to a study, high intake of dietary fats from red meat and dairy... |
![]() New Evidence Why Repair of Myelin Fails in Multiple SclerosisResearch has uncovered new evidence suggesting that damage to nerve cells in people with... |
![]() Memory Test Helps Understand Parkinson's Disease Effect on BehaviorA new neuropsychological memory test developed by Dr. Mark Gluck, is helping to uncover... |
![]() Patient Receives Cardiac Stem Cells in Clinical TrialDoctors at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have announced the completion of the first procedure... |
Most Read
![]() Fat in Urine Could Predict Whether Prostate Cancer is AggressiveAccording to research published in the British Journal of Cancer, tiny bubbles of fat... |
![]() Prostate Cancer Therapy Increases Risk of Bone and Heart Side EffectsProstate cancer patients who undergo therapy to decrease testosterone levels increase their risk of... |
![]() Drug Free Treatment for High Blood Pressure Successfully TestedResearchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a drug free treatment for high blood pressure... |
![]() Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Risk of Advanced Prostate CancerAccording to a study by John S. Witte and colleagues, omega-3 fatty acids appear... |
![]() Resveratrol Could Have Applications for the Treatment of ObesityResveratrol, a compound present in grapes and red wine, has been reported to inhibit... |
![]() Olive Oil Intake Reduces Blood Pressure and Could Reduce Cancer RiskThe olive tree, Olea europaea, is native to the Mediterranean basin and parts of... |
![]() Device Highlighted As an Effective Treatment for High Blood PressureRESPeRATE, the only medical device cleared by the FDA and CE-approved for the adjunctive... |
| The Corner Store Project to Help Prevent Childhood Obesity |
|
It comes as no surprise that researchers have discovered that the corner store that is found everywhere in most cities has become a major snack food source for school age children, and thus a supply of junk food that contributes to the childhood obesity problem. Researchers from Temple University and The Food Trust recently examined the eating habits of urban children before and after school as part of a larger project to make corner store snacks healthier. Their findings will be presented at The Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting on Saturday, October 4, 2008. "We realized that a majority of kids were eating and drinking on their way to and from school and that the corner stores were playing a big role," said lead researcher Stephanie Vander Veur, MPH, director of clinical research at Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education. The majority of the students, from seven Philadelphia middle schools, were African American (47.1%) followed by Hispanic (19.7%), Asian (18.2%) and White (11.9%). Almost half of the children were overweight or obese, with approximately three-quarters walking to and from school. The researchers found that about 70 percent of the students bought food or drink on their commute to school, spending about $3.00 a day. Studies have found that school-based interventions can be very effective in preventing overweight and obesity in large groups of students. But because the external environment - home, corner stores, restaurants - can undermine school programs, researchers are examining what kids are consuming outside of school, as well as how to make these environments healthier. That's why Temple and The Food Trust are working on the Corner Store project. "We're teaching children about making healthier choices in schools, using social marketing to reinforce nutrition information, giving students the opportunity to be advocates for healthier choices in their own communities and working with store owners to stock fresh fruit and other healthy snacks for youngsters to buy," said Sandy Sherman of The Food Trust. "By involving kids in the process, we're ensuring that the messages really appeal to kids." "Because many Philadelphia students walk to school, it's important that we couple our school-based prevention programs with efforts to improve the snacks and drinks for sale on their way to and from school," said Vander Veur. Source: V. Veur, K. E. Borradaile, A. Hillier, K. M. Grundy, S. B. Sherman, J. Nachmani, G.D. Foster. Purchasing and commuting patterns of 4th-6th graders before and after school. Temple University, The Food Trust, The Philadelphia School District. October 2008. More Obesity and Weight Loss Related Articles
|



















