# The Impact of Improvements in Built- and Social-Environments and Housing on Obesity in Public Housing Residents: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in South Los Angeles

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $683,755

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Obesity is a top public health concern and its prevalence continues to increase in disadvantaged populations.
Evidence suggests that obesity is associated with neighborhood built and social environment characteristics.
These include walkability, exercise opportunities, green space, food outlets and social cohesion. But it is not
clear whether these characteristics themselves cause obesity. Establishing causality is important to inform
public health efforts to reduce health disparities. We propose to address this gap by studying a natural
experiment in a high-poverty urban community. The city of Los Angeles is redeveloping Jordan Downs, an
obsolete 700-unit public housing project. Over 5 years, the redevelopment will build–(1) 700 new units for
existing residents, (2) 700 units for new mixed-income housing residents that will alter the social environment,
(3) a new community center with a gymnasium, (4) retail space that will offer healthy eating opportunities, (5)
green space that will increase opportunities for physical activity, and (6) additional built environment
enhancements that will promote physical activity and healthy eating (e.g. walking and bike lanes, street
lighting). Our goal is to study the effect of these improvements on Jordan Downs' residents' body mass index
(BMI), overweight and obesity. In Aim 1, we will compare changes in these outcomes for the Jordan Downs
residents and a control group (residents of 2 similar public housing projects) for 5 years. In Aim 2, we will
disentangle the effects of three major components of the redevelopment: built environment, social
environment and new housing. We will do this by taking advantage of the fact that the redevelopment will
occur in several phases. In Secondary Aim 3, we will assess why, or why not, the redevelopment affected BMI,
overweight and obesity. To do this, we will track physical activity, dietary behavior, and individual- and social
mediators. Our data collection will include in-person surveys, 24-hr dietary recalls, and accelerometry. Finally,
in Secondary Aim 4 we will explore the moderating effects of sex, race-ethnicity and age. Our study is time-
sensitive because the first phase of redevelopment will be complete by Q4 of 2018. Thus, recruitment and
baseline data collection must be complete by fall of 2018.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9870903
- **Project number:** 5R01CA228058-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ASHLESHA DATAR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $683,755
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9870903

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9870903, The Impact of Improvements in Built- and Social-Environments and Housing on Obesity in Public Housing Residents: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in South Los Angeles (5R01CA228058-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9870903. Licensed CC0.

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