PHRESH in the News

2022

Research Project Will Probe Role of Structural Racism in Development of Dementias and Cognitive Decline Among African Americans

March 14

The PHRESH project will study how exposure to the legacies of structural racism at the neighborhood and individual levels may contribute to the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in African Americans. The work is supported by a $9.6 million grant from the National Institute on Aging.

2021

Salem’s Market & Grill to become the Hill District’s grocery store 

Oct 11
PHRESH study cited in WESA story about the opening of a new grocery store in the Hill District.

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.