The Neighborhood & Health Study

Purpose

The objective of The Neighborhood & Health Study is to use a quasi-experimental mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of living in an agrihood-an agriculturally integrated community. This study follows a longitudinal cohort of residents of a newly developed neighborhood (the Indigo Neighborhood) and a geographically and socio-demographically matched neighborhood (the Elyson Neighborhood), both located in Fort Bend County, Texas, providing a unique opportunity for a natural experiment.

Conditions

  • Healthy Eating
  • Cardiometabolic Health

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

Indigo Neighborhood Participants: - 18 years or older - Lived in the Indigo Neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence for less than 3 months or intend to move to the Indigo Neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence. - Pregnant women will not be excluded from participation and may be coincidentally included Elyson Neighborhood Participants: - 18 years or older - Live in the Elyson Neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence (the comparison neighborhood group). - Pregnant women will not be excluded from participation and may be coincidentally included

Exclusion Criteria

Indigo Neighborhood Participants: • None. Elyson Neighborhood Participants: • None.

Study Design

Phase
Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Case-Control
Time Perspective
Prospective

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Agrihood Group The Agrihood Group consists of adults who live in the Indigo Neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence for less than 3 months or intend to move to the Indigo Neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence. Pregnant women will not be excluded from participation and may be coincidentally included.
  • Other: Residence in Agrihood Neighborhood
    We are examining the effects of individuals who move into an agrihood neighborhood.
Comparison Group The Comparison Group consists of adults who live in the Elyson comparison neighborhood as their primary and permanent residence. Pregnant women will not be excluded from participation and may be coincidentally included.

Recruiting Locations

Elyson Neighborhood
Katy 4702732, Texas 4736286 77493
Contact:
Project Manager

Indigo Neighborhood
Richmond 4722684, Texas 4736286 77406
Contact:
Project Manager

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Texas A&M University

Study Contact

Deyaun L Jafari, Ph.D.
972-952-9215
deyaun.jafari@ag.tamu.edu

Detailed Description

Poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity are prevalent in many communities across the United States. Agriculturally integrated communities called "agrihoods" are a potential responsive agriculture solution that may support healthy living. The aims of the study are to 1) Assess short-term changes in healthy eating, physical activity, cardiometabolic health indicators, and social connectedness as compared to a comparison neighborhood that is not an agriculturally integrated neighborhood; 2) Document time use with features of the Indigo Agrihood and assess consumer preferences for built and nature design features to provide resident-driven data for future developments; 3) Assess the economic benefits of the Indigo Agrihood.