Mississippi INBRE Outreach Scholars program: adapting a summer scholars program to the virtual world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mississippi IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (Grant P20GM103476) launched the new Mississippi INBRE Outreach Scholars (MIOS) summer research program in 2019. The program was designed to offer students community outreach and research experiences related to the study of behavioral and health disparities life sciences. The program was adapted in early 2020 to offer the program in a fully online format in the summer of 2020. This article details the program adaptations and discusses program evaluation data related to scholars' perceptions of program benefits and expectations and their confidence in research-related skills. The program evaluation was a mixed-method approach that included a qualitative postprogram survey and a pre-post quantitative survey. Scholars identified technical and communication skill building and resilience as areas of personal growth. Overall, the program met scholars' expectations for the program and significantly improved their confidence on 8 of the 19 (with confidence interval estimated differences from 0.3 to 2.56, where a difference of 1 is an improvement across 1 anchor on a Likert-type scale) various research-related tasks/skills after completion of the program. The analyses presented demonstrated that a combined qualitative and quantitative analysis approach is useful for examining the extent to which programs such as Mississippi INBRE are meeting goals of providing a rich research experience in health disparities for a diverse student body. Future longitudinal data may be examined to explore the long-term impact of MIOS on career preparation and choices and graduate education.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The Mississippi INBRE Outreach Scholars program is a summer research program for Mississippi college students that was successfully adapted to a fully online environment amidst the coronavirus-19 pandemic.

Association between marital status and cigarette smoking: Variation by race and ethnicity.

It is unclear whether health risk behaviors differ by nuanced marital statuses and race/ethnicity. We examined the association between detailed marital status and current cigarette smoking among U.S. adults by race/ethnicity. Data were from four Health Information National Trends (HINTS) study cycles collected in 2011-2017 with a nationally representative sample of adults 30 years and older (n = 11,889). Current cigarette smoking prevalence was compared across detailed marital statuses (married, cohabiting, divorced, widowed, separated, single/never married) by race/ethnicity. Adults who had the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking were non-Hispanic Black cohabitors (36.2%), separated non-Hispanic White adults (35.3%), and single/never married Hispanic adults (28.2%). It is noteworthy that widowed adults had lower cigarette smoking prevalence than those who were divorced or separated across races/ethnicities. Taken together, this study demonstrates how cigarette smoking prevalence varies by intersection of marital status and race/ethnicity. Ensuring the equitable implementation of a comprehensive best-practice tobacco prevention and control program that includes prevention and treatment is important to reduce the burden of cigarette smoking in these populations.

Passive recruitment reach of a lifestyle management program to address obesity in the deep south during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obesity is a significant public health concern, especially in the Deep South and in Mississippi where prevalence is among the worst in the nation paired, with other poor health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions. Lifestyle management programs that address modifiable risk factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, can be effective mitigation strategies to halt weight accumulation patterns and ameliorate metabolic risk factors for some populations. However, there is limited evidence regarding the implementation of effective practice models to address obesity risk in underserved and underrepresented populations, such as African Americans, and people in the stage of earlier adulthood. Furthermore, there is growing evidence supporting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle management programs that should be considered in these populations. The purpose of this manuscript was to describe the development and telehealth implementation of a weight management program during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a preliminary examination of recruitment strategies and baseline characteristics for enrolled participants. Passive recruitment (social media, web, email, and other media advertisements) resulted in 157 screening initiations, and 79 of those participants met the study inclusion criteria. Further, of the 79 eligible participants, 38 completed all study enrollment requirements and presented with metabolic abnormalities. The study findings add to the emerging body of evidence for how the pandemic may have impacted lifestyle management programs and is representative of an understudied and underrepresented population.

Improving participation rates for women of color in health research: the role of group cohesion.

Adherence to physical activity and dietary interventions is a common challenge. Interventions that use group cohesion strategies show promise for increasing adherence, but have not been tested among women of color. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dimensions of group cohesion mediate the association between intervention condition and attendance within a community physical activity program for women of color. African American and Hispanic or Latina women (N = 310) completed measurements at baseline and post-intervention and participated in a social cohesion intervention to improve physical activity and dietary habits. Women were assigned to a physical activity or fruit and vegetable intervention group. Social and task cohesion was measured using the Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire (PAGE-Q). Attendance was recorded at each of six intervention sessions. Women were generally middle-age (M age = 46.4 years, SD = 9.1) and obese (M BMI = 34.4 kg/m2, SD = 7.7). The estimate of the mediated effect was significant for all group cohesion constructs, indicating both task constructs-attraction to the group's task (SE = 0.096, CI: -0.599 to -0.221) and group integration around the task (SE = 0.060, CI: -0.092 to -0.328)-and social constructs-attraction to the group's social aspects (SE = 0.046, CI: -0.546 to -0.366) and group integration around social aspects (SE = 0.046, CI: -0.546 to -0.366)-significantly mediated the association between group assignment and attendance. Both task and social constructs are important to improve attendance in health promotion interventions for women of color.

Key Focus Group Themes to Inform Weight Management Interventions in Deep South African Americans.

OBJECTIVE: To understand African Americans' perceptions, barriers, and facilitators to recruitment, enrollment, adoption, maintenance, and retention in a nutrition and physical activity promotion program. DESIGN: Four focus groups were conducted. SETTING: Two community settings located in Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 28) were aged 18-50 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Barriers and facilitators associated with healthy eating, physical activity, achieving a healthy weight, and participation in a health behavior change program. ANALYSIS: A conventional thematic content analysis approach includes data familiarization, initial code generation, initial theme generation, themes review, and team review for finalization of themes. RESULTS: Major themes related to health behaviors and participation in a behavior change program were identified by participants, including time constraints, costs, social support, consistency and self-efficacy, motivation for longevity and disease prevention, physical appearance, fear of injury/pain, social norms/stigma associated with outdoor physical activity, body criticism from family members, and having empathic and validating program staff support. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Several social determinants of health were identified as essential considerations for promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors among African American adult Mississippians. Cultural and spiritual implications were also identified. Study insights inform policy approaches for designing culturally appropriate health behavior change programs in the Deep South.

Multiple measures of physical activity, dietary habits and weight status in African American and Hispanic or Latina women.

Compared measures of physical activity and dietary habits used in the Health Is Power (HIP) study, and described the associations of physical activity and dietary habits among African American and Hispanic or Latino women, adjusted for weight status. Cross-sectional baseline data were compared for community dwelling, healthy African American (N = 262) and Hispanic or Latina women (N = 148) who participated in HIP. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form, the Check And Line Questionnaire (CALQ) log and accelerometry. Dietary habits were measured using NCI 24-h recall screeners, vegetable and fruit (VF) logs and the NCI Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ). Differences in physical activity and dietary habits were assessed using simultaneous 2 (ethnicity) × 3 (weight status) ANCOVAs adjusted for age and socioeconomic status. Women (M age = 44.4 ± 10.9 years) were obese (M = 34.0 ± 9.7 kg/m(2)), did not meet physical activity guidelines as measured by accelerometry (M = 19.4 ± 19.1 min MVPA/day) and ate few VF (M = 2.8 ± 2.7 servings/day). DHQ variables differed by weight status. IPAQ was associated with CALQ, and CALQ with accelerometry (P < .05). IPAQ was not associated with accelerometry. Regardless of ethnicity, normal weight women did more physical activity, reported more VF consumption, and consumed more fat calories than overweight and obese women (Ps < .05). African American women did more MVPA than Hispanic or Latino women (P < .001). Relationships between behaviors and weight status suggest accelerometry and DHQ are preferable, regardless of ethnicity; and studies may capture different domains of physical activity and dietary habits depending on measure used.

Body image and physical activity among Latina and African American women.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity in African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women has been partly attributed to low physical activity (PA) and cultural influences on body image. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among body mass index (BMl=kg/m2), body image perception (perceived and desired) and PA. DESIGN: The current study is a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of the Health Is Power (HIP) project (1R01CA109403). SETTING: Women residing in Harris County, Houston and Travis County, Austin, Texas were recruited to participate in the study. PARTICIPANTS: Over four hundred (N=410) AA (N=262) and HL (N=148) women participated in the HIP project and were included in the current study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, Pulvers' body image, PA and demographic data were collected from each participant. RESULTS: Women (mean age=45.2 yrs) were educated (44% college graduates) and obese (mean BMI =34.6 kg/m2). Less than half perceived themselves correctly regardless of actual weight and ethnicity (P<.001). Nearly three-fourths of AA (73.9%) and less than half of HL (42.9%) women who were normal weight desired to be obese, and only 39.4% of AA and HL women desired to be normal weight. Women varied on measures of PA (P<.05). Regression analyses showed objectively measured PA was significantly associated with BMI and ethnicity (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Results reveal dichotomous distortion in body images. Women need strategies to perceive normal weight as desirable for health and beauty, leading to increased PA and reducing obesity.

The evaluation of a fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) based intervention to initiate and sustain physical activity.

Background: The United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS)recommends that adults achieve 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.Most African American women do not meet these guidelines. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of an intervention based on the fourth generation, multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change for initiating and sustaining physical activity among African American women when compared to a first generation, knowledge-based intervention. Methods: The randomized controlled trial (RCT) utilized a pre-test, post-test and 6-week followup evaluation with an experimental (n=25) group and a comparison group (n=23). Process evaluation for satisfaction and program fidelity was conducted along with impact evaluation for changes in MTM constructs, intent to initiate and sustain physical activity, minutes of physical activity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure in hypertensives. Results:The MTM-based intervention proved significantly efficacious in increasing the minutes of physical activity from pre-test mean of 37 minutes to 172 minutes at follow-up (mean difference135.08 minutes, 95% CI: 106.04 to 164.13, P<0.0001), reducing waist circumference from pretest mean of 39 inches to 38 inches at follow-up (mean difference -1.12 inches, 95% CI: -1.70 to-0.545, P<0.001) and modifying the MTM construct of changes in physical environment from a mean of 7 units at pre-test to 9 units at follow-up (mean difference 2.08 units, 95% CI: 0.73 to 3.43, P<0.004) when compared to the knowledge-based intervention over time. Conclusion: There were directional improvements in the mean scores for most of the study variables over time for the MTM intervention group and statistically significant improvement in minutes of physical activity and waist circumference.

How does the built environment relate to body mass index and obesity prevalence among public housing residents?

PURPOSE: This study examined associations of environmental variables with obesity prevalence and individual body mass index (BMI) among impoverished residents of public housing developments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data were drawn from two studies in the same Midwestern metropolitan area of participants within neighborhoods. SETTING: Pathways to Health interviewed housing development residents and Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity assessed built environment factors in the surrounding neighborhoods (i.e., 800-m radius from center of housing development). SUBJECTS: Four hundred twenty-one residents participated (mean age = 43.8 years; 72.0% women, 59.6% high school degree, 79.6% African-American). Fifty-five physical activity resources were identified and assessed. MEASURES: Demographics and measured weights and heights were obtained for participants. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment measured the type, accessibility, features, amenities, qualities, and incivilities of physical activity resources. Neighborhood street connectivity was also measured. RESULTS: Average age-adjusted BMI was 31.4 (SD = 1.3), with 45% of residents obese. High negative correlations were found between BMI and street connectivity (p = .05) and between obesity prevalence and resource accessibility (p = .09), number of amenities (p = .04), and amenity quality (p = .04). Higher resource accessibility, feature quality, number of amenities, and fewer incivilities per resource accounted for 71% of obesity variance (p < .05). Male gender and higher feature quality, F(11, 407) 37.19 and 12.66, p < .001, predicted lower BMI among residents. CONDUSION: Supportive neighborhood environments were related to lower obesity prevalence and lower BMI among residents.

Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for an online peer-to-peer suicide prevention and awareness for depression (SPAD) intervention among African American college students: experimental study.

Background: Suicide rates are high among African American students because they are at a greater risk of depression. A commonly used suicide prevention approach is the gatekeeper training. However, gatekeeper training is neither evidence-based nor has it been identified as culturally-appropriate for African American college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an online peer-to-peer PRECEDE-PROCEED model based depression awareness and suicide prevention program that was culturally appropriate for African American college students. Methods: The setting was a predominantly Black institution in southern USA. A pre-experimental repeated measures one group design was used to measure changes in peer educators' (n = 29) predisposing factors regarding knowledge, skills and attitudes pertaining to depression, reinforcing factors or receiving support from peers, healthcare professionals and teachers to help someone with depression, enabling factors or sureness of finding organizations to help someone with depression, and behavior for helping someone with depression at pretest, posttest and 1-month follow-up. A posttest only one group design was also used to measure effect on predisposing factors and behavior of students (n = 300) trained by peer educators. Results: There were statistically significant improvements in attitudes related to depression as disease (P = 0.003; η2 = 0.39), attitudes about managing depression (P = 0.0001; η2 = 0.30), skills(P = 0.0001; η2 = 0.41), reinforcing factors (P = 0.018; η2 = 0.13), enabling factors (P = 0.0001;η2 = 0.31), and behavior (P = 0.016; η2 = 0.14). Changes in knowledge about depression and attitudes about helping people with depression were not statistically significant over time for peer educators. The peer-to-peer training was not completely effective in transferring corresponding changes for students trained by peers. Conclusion: The program was effective for peer educators but peers could not significantly influence other students in all domains. This study provides a starting point toward evidencebased approaches for health promotion interventionists addressing depression awareness and suicide prevention among African American college students.

Associations between the built environment and physical activity in public housing residents.

BACKGROUND: Environmental factors may influence the particularly low rates of physical activity in African American and low-income adults. This cross-sectional study investigated how measured environmental factors were related to self-reported walking and vigorous physical activity for residents of low-income public housing developments. METHODS: Physical activity data from 452 adult residents residing in 12 low-income housing developments were combined with measured environmental data that examined the neighborhood (800 m radius buffer) around each housing development. Aggregated ecological and multilevel regression models were used for analysis. RESULTS: Participants were predominately female (72.8%), African American (79.6%) and had a high school education or more (59.0%). Overall, physical activity rates were low, with only 21% of participants meeting moderate physical activity guidelines. Ecological models showed that fewer incivilities and greater street connectivity predicted 83% of the variance in days walked per week, p < 0.001, with both gender and connectivity predicting days walked per week in the multi-level analysis, p < 0.05. Greater connectivity and fewer physical activity resources predicted 90% of the variance in meeting moderate physical activity guidelines, p < 0.001, and gender and connectivity were the multi-level predictors, p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively. Greater resource accessibility predicted 34% of the variance in days per week of vigorous physical activity in the ecological model, p < 0.05, but the multi-level analysis found no significant predictors. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the physical activity of low-income residents of public housing is related to modifiable aspects of the built environment. Individuals with greater access to more physical activity resources with fewincivilities, as well as, greater street connectivity, are more likely to be physically active.

Diet, Alcohol Use, and Colorectal Cancer Screening among Black Church-goers.

OBJECTIVES: Interventions for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention among black adults are needed. Connections between CRC screening non-adherence and other health risk behaviors may inform intervention development. METHODS: Associations between red meat (RM) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, at-risk alcohol use, and CRC ever-screening were examined using adjusted logistic regressions among 520 church-going black adults in Houston, Texas, aged >50. RESULTS: In the final adjusted model, being younger, uninsured, eating more RM and engaging in at-risk alcohol use were associated with lower likelihood of CRC ever-screening. CONCLUSIONS: Church-based interventions to increase CRC screening among black adults might capitalize on associations with RM consumption and alcohol use behaviors as part of a broader wellness promotion initiative.

Reach and representativeness of ethnic minority women in the Health Is Power Study: a longitudinal analysis.

Reach is a key factor in translating research to practical application. This study examined reach and representativeness of a multi-city, randomized controlled community health trial in African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women. Participants completed measures of demographics, body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, resting heart rate, and blood pressure followed by a run-in procedure and a randomization meeting. AA were more likely to be screened out initially; HL were more likely to drop out. Participation did not differ by city or recruitment method. Women who completed the post-intervention assessment were more likely to be AA, older, and have higher socioeconomic status (p values < .05). This study showed moderate levels of reach but overrepresented higher educated, wealthier, and older women at the completion of the study. Representativeness can change over the course of the study and impact the practicality of translating research to practice.

Obesogenic influences in public housing: a mixed-method analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity prevalence is higher among those who live in impoverished environments. This investigation identified obesogenic factors in urban neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments (HDs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional quantitative survey data from 14 HD neighborhoods and qualitative interviews of the HD managers. SETTING: Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. SUBJECTS: Environmental data were collected from HDs and surrounding neighborhoods, an area enclosed by an 800-m radius line drawn from the HD centroid. Qualitative data were collected from all 14 HD managers. MEASURES: HDs were rated by a brief environmental audit. HD managers were assessed in a structured 45- to 60-minute interview about neighborhood factors influencing resident obesity. RESULTS: The properties were typically modern and well maintained; however, there were few physical activity (PA) resources and food sources on site. Most HD managers cited the availability of PA resources near the HD; however, there was wide variability in the type and accessibility of the resources. Only two HDs had a store that sold groceries within one block. Interviews identified fast food restaurants as common food sources, with few other food sources available. DISCUSSION: Data suggested that although strides have been made to increase safety and comfort in public housing, there remains poor access to PA resources and healthful food sources. Interventions and policies should consider access to PA resources and food sources.

The Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) instrument: evaluating features, amenities and incivilities of physical activity resources in urban neighborhoods.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood environment factors may influence physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to develop and test a brief instrument to systematically document and describe the type, features, amenities, quality and incivilities of a variety of PA resources. METHOD: The one-page Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) instrument was developed to assess all publicly available PA resources in thirteen urban lower income, high ethnic minority concentration neighborhoods that surrounded public housing developments (HDs) and four higher income, low ethnic minority concentration comparison neighborhoods. Neighborhoods had similar population density and connectivity. Trained field coders rated 97 PA resources (including parks, churches, schools, sports facilities, fitness centers, community centers, and trails) on location, type, cost, features, amenities, quality and incivilities. Assessments typically took about 10 minutes to complete. RESULTS: HD neighborhoods had a mean of 4.9 PA resources (n = 73) with considerable variability in the type of resources available for each neighborhood. Comparison neighborhoods had a mean of 6 resources (n = 24). Most resources were accessible at no cost (82%). Resources in both types of neighborhoods typically had about 2 to 3 PA features and amenities, and the quality was usually mediocre to good in both types of neighborhoods. Incivilities at PA resources in HD neighborhoods were significantly more common than in comparison neighborhoods. CONCLUSION: Although PA resources were similar in number, features and amenities, the overall appearance of the resources in HD neighborhoods was much worse as indicated by substantially worse incivilities ratings in HD neighborhoods. The more comprehensive assessment, including features, amenities and incivilities, provided by the PARA may be important to distinguish between PA resources in lower and higher deprivation areas.

Obesogenic and youth oriented restaurant marketing in public housing neighborhoods.

OBJECTIVES: To compare restaurant marketing by restaurant and neighborhood type. METHODS: All restaurants (61=fast food, FF; 72=table service, TS) within an 800-meter radius of 13 public housing developments (HD) and 4 comparison neighborhoods were audited using the Restaurant Assessment Tool©2010. HD neighborhoods were lower income and higher minority than comparison neighborhoods with similar density and street connectivity. RESULTS: Restaurants in HD neighborhoods had fewer healthy entrées than comparison neighborhoods. FF restaurants had cheaper beverages and more children's meals, supersize drinks, free prize with purchase, super-size items, special characters, and more items geared to driving than TS restaurants. CONCLUSIONS: Residents of lower socioeconomic neighborhoods may be differentially exposed to unhealthy food options.

Mediating effects of group cohesion on physical activity and diet in women of color: health is power.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects and mediating factors of a physical activity (PA) or vegetable and fruit (VF) group cohesion intervention. DESIGN: Longitudinal design. SETTING: Harris County and Travis County, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling African-American and Hispanic or Latina women. INTERVENTION: Three hundred ten women were randomized to a PA (n  =  204) or VF (n  =  106) intervention group. Women met in groups six times over the course of 6 months and were exposed to a group cohesion intervention to promote walking or to increase VF consumption. MEASURES: Women completed the International PA Questionnaire, National Cancer Institute VF and fat screeners, PA Group Environment Questionnaire, and 7-day accelerometer protocol at baseline and post-intervention. ANALYSES: The direct and mediated effects of the intervention on outcomes were evaluated using a mediational chain model, controlling for baseline values and covariates using path analysis. RESULTS: Women were middle aged (mean  =  44.4 years) and overweight or obese (mean body mass index  =  34.0 kg/m(2)). PA increased and fat consumption decreased for both groups, whereas VF consumption increased for women in VF group only (all p < .05). Increased task cohesion led to hypothesized increases in psychosocial factors in the PA group but not to behavioral changes. CONCLUSIONS: Group cohesion interventions may have psychological and physical health benefits for African-American and Hispanic or Latina women, but refinement of measures and intervention delivery is needed to determine whether hypothesized mediational pathways are valid.

Health is Power: an ecological, theory-based health intervention for women of color.

OBJECTIVE: Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits plague Americans as health challenges, with women of color most vulnerable to their detrimental effects. Individually focused interventions have not demonstrated lasting success, possibly due to the lack of focus on sustainable social and physical environment factors. This manuscript describes the rationale, design and methodology of Health Is Power (HIP), a transcultural, community based, randomized controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of a group cohesion intervention to increase physical activity and improve dietary habits in African American and Hispanic or Latina women in Houston and Austin, Texas. METHODS: The intervention development was guided by group dynamics principles anchored within an ecologic model. RESULTS: Women participated in three health assessments and a six month face to face intervention that included evidence-based behavioral methods - integrated into strategies to promote group cohesion - framed to account for environmental factors contributing to health disparities. Women participated in team building activities, environmental mapping exercises, and supervised walks or taste tests. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood contextual and environmental measures are described to test ecologic factors that may contribute to behavioral maintenance. Theoretically guided interventions that account for multiple levels of influence in behavior initiation and maintenance stand to improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

A picture of the healthful food environment in two diverse urban cities.

BACKGROUND: Local food environments influence fresh produce purchase and consumption, and previous research has found disparities in local food environments by income and ethnicity. Other existing studies have begun to quantify the distribution of food sources, but there has been limited attention to important features or types of healthful food that are available or their quality or cost. Two studies assessed the type, quantity, quality and cost of healthful food from two diverse urban cities, Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri and Honolulu, Hawaii, and evaluated differences by neighborhood income and ethnic composition. METHOD: A total of 343 food stores in urban neighborhoods were assessed using the one-page Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity (UNDO) Food Stores Assessment (FSA) measuring healthful foods. US Census data were used to define median household income and ethnic minority concentration. RESULTS: In Study 1, most low socioeconomic status (SES), high ethnic minority neighborhoods had primarily convenience, liquor or small grocery stores. Quality of produce was typically lower, and prices of some foods were more than in comparison neighborhoods. In Study 2, low SES neighborhoods had more convenience and grocery stores. Farmers' markets and supermarkets had the best produce availability and quality, and farmers' markets and pharmacies had the lowest prices. CONCLUSIONS: Messages emphasizing eating more fruits and vegetables are not realistic in urban, low SES, high ethnic concentration neighborhoods. Farmers' markets and supermarkets provided the best opportunities for fresh produce. Increasing access to farmers' markets and supermarkets or reducing prices could improve the local food environment.