Scaling up the SNAP-ED Toolkit Interventions to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Consumption across Counties in Georgia: An Agent-Based Model

Donglan Zhang, Janani J. Thapa, Gang Li, Heejung Son, Zhuo Chen, Lan Mu, Yan Li, Junxiu Liu, Jose A. Pagan, Philippe J. Giabbanelli

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-Ed Toolkit includes a set of interventions to increase the fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of SNAP-eligible households on a limited budget. It is unclear how the interventions affect dietary choices in local populations. This study combines detailed local data with an agent-based model (ABM) to assess the potential cost-effectiveness of scaling up the SNAP-Ed Toolkit interventions in 13 selected metro-Atlanta counties in Georgia. The ABM drew insights from prior research on healthy eating choices and was empirically validated. The model predicted the actual FV consumption levels (\mathrm{R}^{2}=0.951,\ \mathrm{P} < 0.001). If the interventions could successfully enhance community healthy eating norms by 10% and 20%, they would significantly increase FV consumption. The cost per year to bring one person to consume at least two servings of FV daily) was 23 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18-29), and 10 (95% CI: 9-12) in each scenario.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2021 Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, ANNSIM 2021
EditorsCristina Ruiz Martin, Maria Julia Blas, Alonso Inostrosa Psijas
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781565553750
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 19 2021
Event2021 Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, ANNSIM 2021 - Virtual, Fairfax, United States
Duration: Jul 19 2021Jul 22 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2021 Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, ANNSIM 2021

Conference

Conference2021 Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, ANNSIM 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Fairfax
Period7/19/217/22/21

Keywords

  • agent-based model
  • cost analysis
  • health behaviors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Modeling and Simulation

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