This study combined information on USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) interventions with interview responses from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to investigate the viability of linking these large-scale process and outcome databases at the Census-tract level, and to examine associations between levels of intervention reach and fruit and vegetable consumption, consumption of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages, and physical activity.

Information on individuals participating in SNAP-Ed in 2011 and the location of intervention sites were used to develop levels of intervention reach across the 1,527 Census tracts. The location of 2011/12 CHIS respondents was also geocoded and then linked with Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS) data. Regression analyses examined the levels of intervention reach with self-reported healthful eating and beverage consumption behaviors, as well as participation in physical activity. CHIS data for 4,245 adults, 465 teenagers, and 1,217 children were analyzed. These analyses included measures for gender, age, race/ethnicity, and education to discount the potential influence of confounding variables.

Findings: Authors found intervention reach ranged from no SNAP-Ed interventions (661 of the 1,527 Census tracts); to low (0.01%–39.99% of the target population reached), to moderate (40%–89.99% reached); to high (90%–100% reached). Adults and children from high-reach Census tracts reported eating more fruits and vegetables than adults and children from no intervention Census tracts. Adults from Census tracts with low, moderate, and high levels of SNAP-Ed interventions also reported eating fast food less often. Teenagers from low-reach Census tracts reported an increased number of physical activity days than teens not exposed to SNAP-Ed interventions.