State of Obesity 2022: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Trust for America's Health, September 2022, 144 pp.
This report examines adult obesity rates by state, looking at the health implications as well as social, economic, and environmental factors related to diet, nutrition, and physical activity. more info >
State of Black America
National Urban League, June 2022
Annual report presenting the National Urban League's Equality Index. Focuses on unemployment and income equality, but also includes measures of education, health, civic engagement, housing, transportation, and public safety for Hispanic, Black, and White populations. Includes metropolitan area rankings of unemployment and income equality. Requires a free registration to download full reports. more info >
Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to improve U.S. health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2021, 4 pp.
A analysis providing comprehensive estimates of the potential to improve Americans’ health by preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Preventing ACEs could potentially reduce chronic diseases, risky health behaviors, and socioeconomic challenges later in life. more info >
The Food Retail Landscape Across Rural America
United States Department of Agriculture, June 2021, 160 pp.
Examines the landscape of food retailers across the United States, with a focus on rural America and grocery stores, distinguishing between national, regional, and local chains and single location stores and finding that the number of grocery stores has declined from 1990 to 2015. more info >
U.S. Shoppers’ Access to Multiple Food Stores Varies by Region
United States Department of Agriculture, June 2019, 21 pp.
This report uses census data to calculate distances between households and grocery stores, identifying areas where choices are limited and a lack of competition between stores could result in shoppers facing higher prices, lower quality, and reduced selection of foods. The majority of these areas are in portions of the Great Plains section of the Midwest, the Southwest, and the western region of the United States. more info >
The Effects Of Early Care And Education On Children’s Health
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2019, 6 pp.
Examines how early child care and education may lead to improvements in short-and long-term health-related outcomes for children. more info >
Health Equity in Prevention
Wilder Research, January 2019
The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota provided funding to organizations through the Health Equity in Prevention initiative to advance health equity through policy, systems, and environmental changes. Wilder Research conducted a review of tools than can assess organizational capacity to advance health equity. Evaluation work included conducting ripple effect mapping discussions with HEiP-funded organizations to understand project impacts. Reports also highlight policy work and lessons learned. more info >
Healthy Food Access: A View of the Landscape in Minnesota and Lessons Learned From Healthy Food Financing Initiatives
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Wilder Research, April 2016, 54 pp.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Wilder Research conducted a mixed-methods study to provide information to those interested in improving Minnesota's food retail environment. more info >
Healthy Food in Hunger Relief
Wilder Research, September 2015, 69 pp.
Study commissioned by The Open Door to gauge the interest in and feasibility of implementing a healthy food approach in Dakota County's food shelves. more info >
State indicator report on physical activity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2014, 15 pp.
Includes state-level data about individual behaviors related to physical activity, as well as the presence or absence of physical features and policies that can make being physically active either easy or hard to do. more info >
Promoting Healthy Eating at Food Shelves: Strategies for Success and Recommended Resources
University of Minnesota, January 2014, 12 pp.
A guide for what food shelves can do to ensure that people have access to nutritious foods. more info >
Economic and Community Development Outcomes of Healthy Food Retail
PolicyLink, November 2013, 22 pp.
Examines the economic aspects of improving access to healthy food through food retailing, distribution, and production innovations. more info >
Emerging Health Trends in North Dakota: Community Health Needs Assessments Aggregate Data Report
Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota, September 2013, 52 pp.
This report present results of a systematic review of needs collected from 21 CHNAs to compose a macro understanding of community health needs in rural North Dakota. It shows that the Tier 1 needs occurring most frequently are: limited number of health care providers, higher costs of health care for consumers, financial viability of hospitals, mental health, and elevated rates of adult obesity. more info >
Access to Healthy Food and Why it Matters: A Review of the Research
PolicyLink, February 2013, 35 pp.
Findings from a review of recent research on healthy food and food access designed to inform those people designing and implementing strategies to make healthy food available. more info >
The Healthy Food Financing Handbook: From Advocacy to Implementation
The Food Trust, January 2013, 42 pp.
Describes a step-by-step approach to developing state and local policies that encourage the development of supermarkets and other healthy food stores in underserved communities. more info >
The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation
American Public Health Association, February 2010, 12 pp.
Estimates the health care costs of obesity, air pollution from traffic, and traffic crashes based on existing case studies, and argues for incorporating health evaluation and cost assessment as part of transportation policy. more info >
Obesity Resources
Sources of research on obesity, including journals and organizations. more info >
Food Insecurity in North Dakota
Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. This interactive map provides data on food insecurity at the county level to improve our understanding of food insecurity and food costs in local communities. more info >