Does Effectiveness of Weight Management Programs Depend on the Food Environment?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the causal effects of a population-scale behavioral weight management program and to determine whether the program's effectiveness depends on participants' geographic access to places to purchase healthy and less healthy foods.

Data sources

Secondary data from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinical and administrative records (2008-2014), retail food environment measures from commercial databases (2008-2014), and the American Community Survey (2009-2014).

Study design

We estimated the effect of the VA's MOVE! weight management program on body mass index after 6 months using difference-in-difference regressions to compare participants with a propensity score-matched control group. We estimated treatment effects overall and in subgroups with d

SUBMITTER: Tarlov E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6232440 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature