Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Health Promot. 2017 Mar 2;32(3):779–794. doi: 10.1177/0890117117694448

Table 2.

Residential Environmental and MOVE! Weight Management Program Exposure Measures.

Construct Conceptual Definition Operational Definition Source
Residential Environmental Attributes

Healthier food outlet accessibilitya Availabilityb of food outlets offering a large selection of healthier food products Chain and non-chain supermarkets
Grocery stores
Supercenters and other general merchandise storesc
InfoUSA
Less healthy food outlet accessibilitya Availabilityb of food outlets primarily selling energy-dense, nutrient-poor food products Convenience stores InfoUSA
Chain and non-chain fast food restaurants Dun & Bradstreet
Healthier food product pricesd Prices of healthier foods and beverages Fruit and vegetable prices: summary measure of raw potatoes (10 lb bag), bananas (per lb), lettuce (head), peas (15–15.25 oz can), tomatoes, frozen corn (16 oz), peaches (29 oz can) C2ER Cost of Living Index
Food at home prices: summary measure including items such as eggs, milk, chicken, coffee, cereal, and bread C2ER Cost of Living Index
Less healthy food product pricesd Prices of and sales taxes on energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages Fast food prices: summary measure of pizza (11–12 inch thin cheese), hamburger (1/4 lb), 2 piece chicken (thigh plus drumstick) C2ER Cost of Living Index
Soda prices: Coke (12 oz)
Soda taxes (i.e., state-level sales taxes on soda) http://www.bridgingthegapresearch.org/research/sodasnack_taxes/
Walkabilitye Availability of non- residential destinations and directness of walking routes Street connectivity (e.g., density of street intersections, ratio of 4- way to all street) NAVTEQ
Population and housing unit densities ACS
Density of commercial destinations InfoUSA and Dun & Bradstreet
Accessibility of recreational settingsa Availabilityb of indoor and outdoor settings to be physically active Parks – count and land area NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas
Fitness facilities InfoUSA
Aestheticse Attractiveness or appeal Vacant housing unit density ACS
Traffic safetye Road features that slow or calm traffic Presence of (a) median/dividers, (b) roundabouts, and (c) “low mobility” features (e.g., low speeds and traffic volumes) NAVTEQ
Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics Deprivation and affluence % below poverty
Median household income
% college educated
ACS
VA healthcare accessibility Proximity of VA healthcare facility Distance from patient’s home to (a) nearest VA inpatient facility, (b) nearest VA outpatient facility, and (c) patient’s most frequently used VA facility
Urbanicityf Degree of urbanization Urban-Rural Classification Scheme: metropolitan area (large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro) and non-metropolitan area (micropolitan, non-core) NCHS

MOVE! Program Characteristicsg

MOVE! program elements Nutrition supports Total nutrition specialist FTE
Specific provider specialty FTE (Registered Dietician vs. Dietetic Technician)
Multidisciplinary approach: Involvement of dietetic/nutrition specialist and behavioral health specialist (yes/no; FTE ratio)
Includes a highly structured low-calorie diet (yes/no)
MOVE! Annual Reporth
Physical activity supports Total physical activity specialist FTE
Specific provider specialty FTE (Recreational Therapist vs. Physical, Occupational, or Kinesiotherapist)
Multidisciplinary approach: Involvement of physical activity specialist and behavioral health specialist (yes/no; FTE ratio)
Physical activity incorporated into MOVE! group sessions (yes/no)
Dedicated indoor physical activity space (yes/no)
Outdoor environment for physical activity (yes/no)
MOVE! Annual Report
Behavioral health supports Total behavioral health specialist FTE
Specific provider specialty FTE (Psychologist or Social Worker vs. Mental Health Technician)
“Sufficient” behavioral/mental health specialist involvement to meet needs (yes/no)
Self-management support skill development:
  • Individual sessions (yes/no)

  • Group sessions (yes/no)

Use of cognitive therapies (yes/no)
Use of incentives/rewards (yes/no)
MOVE! Annual Report
Distance supports Telehealth utilization (available yes/no; % of all MOVE! encounters):
  • “TeleMOVE” (in-home device for feedback and education)

  • Clinical Video Telehealth (video conferencing)

  • “MOVE! TLC” (structured telephone support)

MOVE! telephone encounters (>=1; % of all MOVE! encounters)
MOVE! Annual Report

Abbreviations: FTE: Full time equivalent; NPCD: National Patient Care Database

a

Constructed for approximately 0.25, 1, 3, and 5-mile buffers from home location.

b

Count, count per capita, and count per land area, as well as distance to the nearest

c

Supercenters and other mass merchandisers may be considered a less healthy food outlet due to marketing of unhealthy food products

d

Food price data are available nationwide for core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). Therefore, price data are assigned according to the CBSA in which the home is located or the nearest CBSA. Food sales tax data are available nationwide at the state level. Therefore, tax data are assigned according to the state in which home is located.

e

Constructed for 0.25 and 1-mile buffers from home address

f

Constructed based on county in which home is located

g

All measures to be derived from data contained in MOVE! Annual Reports, FY2008–2013 (excluding 2012 when data were not collected)

h

Data recollected via electronic survey from each medical center with a MOVE! Program; no survey conducted in 2012 or 2014