Aetna Foundation to Fund over $1 Million in Research to Deepen Understanding of Obesity Epidemic
February 22 2011 - 2:47PM
Business Wire
The Aetna Foundation today announced significant funding in
support of five research studies designed to deepen understanding
of the root causes of the nation’s well-documented obesity epidemic
and drive viable solutions to the core problems. More than $1
million in funding will be granted in support of separate studies
at New York University School of Medicine, Boston University, the
University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale
University’s CARE program.
“While on its surface, the nation’s obesity epidemic appears
simple – we consume too many calories and don’t get enough exercise
– the issue is far more complex and the data available on what
drives these unhealthy behaviors, particularly in urban, poor or
minority communities, is scant,” said Anne C. Beal, MD, MPH,
president of the Aetna Foundation. “To help build the knowledge
base and support development of effective policies that will foster
healthier communities and a healthier nation, we are supporting
these key research projects. These studies will consider issues
such as the availability of broad food choices and the pricing of
food, as well as the impact these factors have on individual food
choices. The studies also will look at the role of our
neighborhoods – and the impact of what is or isn’t in the ‘built
environment’ where we live, work and play-- on population health
and weight loss.”
Details on the grants announced today are as follows:
- $250,000 to New York University
School of Medicine for a two-year study of the impact of the
introduction of supermarkets through tax credits and other
incentives in areas that are classified as “food deserts.” This
study will examine the impact of the introduction of a supermarket
on the local food environment in the Bronx, as well as the
corresponding impact it may have on healthy eating habits of
residents in local communities in the area, which include large
Latino and African-American populations. The study will collect
data on the eating patterns of 2,000 adults who are racially and
ethnically diverse. Encouraging the introduction of supermarkets in
food deserts through tax credits and other incentives is a growing
strategy to address the problem of food deserts in some
communities, but there is little data to support the effectiveness
of this approach. Researchers at NYU hope to provide this critical
insight to help shape federal, state and local policies.
- $233,000 to Boston University’s
Slone Epidemiology Center for a two-year study of factors that
influence obesity among African-American women, including both
individual and neighborhood-level factors, and the identification
of the most effective small changes individuals can make to
decrease obesity rates among African-American women. Data from more
than 20,000 participants in the ongoing Black Women’s Health Study
will be examined, including diet and exercise patterns,
psychosocial stressors, and the neighborhood environment where the
women live. Researchers hope to identify small, actionable changes
women can take to reduce weight gain, and acquire evidence that
will lead to policy and institutional level changes that can impact
weight gain and obesity, such as neighborhood safety and
walkability and grocery store accessibility.
- $248,000 to the University of
Michigan for a two-year study of how the built environment in
an urban setting – in this case Detroit – may influence the risk of
obesity among residents. The study seeks to identify specific
features of the built and social environments that can be
influenced to reduce racial and ethnic inequalities in obesity and
related morbidity and mortality. The findings could inform the
development of interventions and policies to promote health in
urban communities. The study will bring together an
interdisciplinary team of health researchers, urban planners,
health service providers and community representatives and will
build upon existing data sets compiled by the Healthy Environments
Partnership.
- $250,000 to the University of
Pennsylvania’s African American Collaborative Obesity Research
Network for a one-year study of how variations in food prices
influence food and beverage purchases among African-American women.
The project will study the typical food shopping patterns in a
sample of African-American women and seek to understand how food
prices influence those patterns. Price variations for selected
products at grocery stores within a defined geographical area will
be analyzed in conjunction with data obtained from study
participants to determine how price fits in with other
considerations such as convenience and quantity when purchasing
foods and beverages. Researchers hope to assess the potential for
adjustments to food prices for high calorie-low nutrient foods and
beverages to discourage their consumption and encourage the
purchasing of healthier alternatives.
- $150,000 to the Community Alliance
for Research and Engagement (CARE) at Yale University for a
study of the role of the neighborhood environment on childhood
obesity risk factors and health outcomes. This study will look at a
variety of built environment factors in six low-income,
predominately minority neighborhoods in New Haven, as well as those
factors closer to schools to see which of these might have a
greater influence on the children’s body mass index, diet and
exercise. The study will also look at whether environmental factors
have different effects on adults versus children.
The Aetna Foundation remains committed to targeted grant-making
in three major areas which include addressing the rising incidence
of obesity among U.S. residents, including children; promoting
racial and ethnic equity in health and health care for common
chronic conditions and infant mortality; and advancing integrated
health care, by improving coordination and communications among
health care professionals, creating informed and involved patients,
and promoting cost-effective, affordable care.
About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation, Inc. is the independent charitable and
philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna
Foundation have contributed $394 million in grants and
sponsorships, including $15.6 million in 2010. As a national
health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and access to
high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced
by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who have
volunteered more than 2.3 million hours since 2003.
Our current giving is focused on addressing the
rising rate of adult and childhood obesity in the U.S.;
promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care;
and advancing integrated health care. For more information, visit
www.AetnaFoundation.org.
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