PHRESH in the News

2021

• It's Hard to Eat Healthy Feb 17

  Tamara Dubowitz quoted in Pittsburgh Quarterly about the rise in obesity rates in Allegheny County

• Striking rates of food insecurity in the Hill District and Homewood Feb 7

  Wendy Troxel and Tamara Dubowitz write in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the impact of COVID-19 on food insecurity on two neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.

2020

• Is it time to retire the term “food desert?” Jan 8

  The Counter talks about discussing Tamara Dubowitz’s findings related to the food shopping environment.

2019

• Pittsburgh Grows Urban Gardens in the Fight Against Gentrification Dec 6

  Civil Eats quotes Tamara Dubowitz on a brief summary of the findings from the PHRESH project related to the supermarket opening in Pittsburgh.

• Customers can make fast-food combo meals healthier Aug 26

  Reuters quotes Tamara Dubowitz about findings from the PHRESH study about combination meals.

• Supermarkets near home, fast-food along commute tied to obesity Aug 7

  Reuters quotes Tamara Dubowitz about findings from the PHRESH study related to eating habits.

2018

• Food deserts don’t cause obesity. But that doesn’t mean they don't matter. Aug 9

  The Washington Post interviews Tamara Dubowitz on research from the PHRESH project about the relationship between obesity and grocery access.

• #RideWithUsPgh: Meet La’Vette Wagner Aug 9

  Healthy Ride Pittsburgh interviews La'Vette Wager, PHRESH field coordinator, about growing up in Pittsburgh's Hill District and her fondness for bicycling.

• Turning Food Deserts into Oases Feb 11

  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes about the findings of the PHRESH study on neighborhood health outcomes in Pittsburgh's Hill District.

• Food Deserts Aren’t the Main Driver of Bad Diets: Study Jan 23

  Winsight Grocery Business writes about findings of the PHRESH study related to food shopping behavior.

• How to Combat 'Food Deserts' and 'Food Swamps' Jan 18

  Healthline quotes Andrea Richardson about the findings of the PHRESH study on neighborhood health and economic improvements, as well as possible policy considerations based on these findings.

• Breaking the Drought in Food Deserts: What happens when a grocery store opens in an inner-city neighborhood? Jan 8

  The Pacific Standard quotes Andrea Richardson on the purpose and findings of the PHRESH study.

2017

• Is it time to retire the term “food desert?” Jan 8

  The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review quotes Andrea Richardson about findings from the PHRESH study on neighborhood changes after a full-service supermarket opened in Pittsburgh's Hill District.

• Why We Need to Think Beyond Supermarkets When Dealing with Food Deserts Dec 15

  Caroline Schagrin writes about food deserts in the United States and quotes Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar on other factors that affect health outcomes, even with the presence of a full-service grocery store.

• Can’t Sleep? Maybe It's Your Neighborhood May 8

  Christine Ro explores the relationship of sleep quality and neighborhood perceptions, citing Wendy Troxel's recent research.

• What Neighborhood Factors, Besides Having A Grocery Store, Could Improve Health In The Hill? May 8

  90.5 WESA interviewed Tamara Dubowitz about the PHRESH study and its key findings on food deserts and community well-being.

• Supermarkets in Food Deserts Don't Lead to Better Food Choices May 2

  Article quotes Christine Vaughn about the PHRESH project and how product placement affects consumer choice.

• Who You Are May Affect Your Diet More Than Where You Shop Apr 28

  Article (originally featured in HealthDay) describes the PHRESH study and quotes Tamara Dubowitz about strategies for encouraging healthy eating habits.

2016

• Food Deserts: How Residents' Diets Change After a Neighborhood Supermarket Opens Apr 4

  Article in Journalist's Resource cites the PHRESH study and its key findings.

• Healthy People, Healthy Places: Diet and Food Apr 4

  Video special produced for Be Well on ideastream features comments from Tamara Dubowitz about the PHRESH project and food deserts.

• Fresh Produce in Cleveland's Food Deserts Mar 25

  Video on ideastream features comments from Tamara Dubowitz about the PHRESH project and food deserts.

• The Surprising Impact of a Supermarket on a 'Food Desert' Mar 24

  Coverage in Huffpost Health Living about the PHRESH study.

• Be Well: Easy Access to Healthy Food Doesn't Necessarily Equal Healthier Neighborhoods Mar 23

  Coverage from WDCPN with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Learning from One City's Effort to Transform Community Mar 21

  Coverage in Huffpost Impact about the PHRESH study.

2015

• Three Takeaways for the Field: Grocery Stores as Community Development Dec 10

  Coverage from the Building Healthy Places Network, detailing outcomes of the PHRESH study.

• Does Opening a Supermarket in a "Food Desert" Improve Residents' Diets? Nov 13

  Coverage from the American Journal of Managed Care Online with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Can a Supermarket Change the Way a Neighborhood Feels About Itself? Nov 10

  Coverage from the Kitchn with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Pittsburgh Tuesday Takes Nov 10

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the PHRESH study.

• Diana Nelson Jones' Walkabout: Hill District Shop 'n Save Just Needs More Shoppers Nov 10

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the PHRESH study.

• Eating Healthy: The Hill's Market Begins to Make a Difference Nov 9

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the PHRESH study.

• Sales Rise at Hill District Shop 'n Save Grocery Store Nov 9

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the PHRESH study.

• The Unexpected Way Fixing Food Deserts Changes Diets Nov 5

  Coverage from TIME magazine with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• When a Supermarket Changes How a Neighborhood Feels About Itself Nov 4

  Coverage from the Atlantic with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• In Former Food Desert, Access Doesn't Always Inspire Better Nutrition Nov 3

  Coverage from NPR with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Hill District Shop 'n Save Store Brings Unexpected Dietary Benefits, Study Finds Nov 3

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the PHRESH study.

• Access to a Supermarket Improves Eating Habits, Study Says, But Not for the Reason You'd Think Nov 2

  Coverage from the Los Angeles Times quotes researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

2014

• Lack of Grocery Not Sole Obesity Cause, Grocery Not Sole Obesity Cause October 12

  Coverage from the Tribune Review with quotes from statistician Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar and researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• How One Credit Union Is Eliminating Food Deserts, One Gift Card at a Time June 7

  Coverage from the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council discusses PHRESH partnership.

2012

• Survey marks food decisions by Pittsburgh residents in Hill, Homewood December 10

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz field coordinator La'Vette Wagner.

• Running out of food is a monthly problem for residents in Hill, Homewood December 5

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh City Paper with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Study eyes grocery shopping habits of Hill District residents November 29

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Food survey of Homewood, Hill District ready for public meetings November 26

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announcing PHRESH's November-December 2012 town hall meetings to share findings with Hill District and Homewood residents.

• Researchers to study impact of new grocery on Pittsburgh's Hill District residents November 21

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with quotes from field coordinator La'Vette Wagner and researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Survey of shopping habits in Hill, Homewood nearly complete March 30

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz and field coordinator La'Vette Wagner.

• Rand Corporation Researchers to Study Effects of Hill District Grocery Store March 29

  Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with quotes from researcher Tamara Dubowitz.

• Study PI Commentary March 29

  Researcher Tamara Dubowitz comments in a letter to the editor on the necessity of studying “food deserts.”

2011

• Taking Inventory in the Hill August 31

  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff blog about data collection process.

• Nation's Largest Food Access Study Conducted in Pittsburgh August 6

  Radio interview of researcher Tamara Dubowitz by the Allegheny Front's Ann Murray.

• Food deserts in Pittsburgh July 25

  Blog by Tufts University professor Parke Wilde, describing PHRESH as “one of the country's most ambitious research efforts to measure the effect of changes in local food retail on the ground in two low-income urban neighborhoods.”

2010

• Neighborhood Groceries Impacting Health July 19

  Blog post by Pittsburgh radio station WDUQ discussing PHRESH.