October 17, 2018
Testing healthy living strategies in public housing
New research from a University of Washington faculty member indicates that health promotion interventions in public housing communities have the potential to reduce obesity among residents.
This one-year study, which looked at the diets and physical activity of people living in 10 public housing developments in Boston, was led by Deborah Bowen, professor of bioethics and humanities at the UW School of Medicine and adjunct professor of health services at the UW School of Public Health.
Over the course of the study, she found that a significant number of residents improved their eating habits, became more physically active, and lost weight after activities such as walking groups and regular stops by a fresh fruit and vegetable truck were introduced.
Dr. Bowen is now working with colleagues in the UW School of Public Health to pilot a similar project in the State of Washington.