Alyssa J Moran
Biographic Data
| ID | 6057665 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alyssa J Moran |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alyssa J |
| FAMILY NAME | Moran |
| SIGNATURE | MORÁN A J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Johns Hopkins University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0952-7813 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 21 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Modeling the Make America Healthy Again's Food Policy Strategy on Tobacco
This Viewpoint discusses the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report, which implicates the food industry for its role in the chronic disease epidemic
Housing Quality Metric (HQM)
Objectives. To develop a national, tract-level measure of neighborhood housing quality and test its validity by examining associations with population health metrics. Methods. Using microdata from the 2021 American Housing Survey postfit to the 2018–2022 American Community Survey, we developed the Housing Quality Metric (HQM), which predicts the likelihood that a US census tract contains a large share of poor-quality housing units across 3 domain…
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program issuance timing is associated with sugar-sweetened beverage marketing in the USA
Objective: Prior research has shown that there are more supermarket displays of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) during times when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are distributed (‘issuance periods’). This may contribute to inequitable purchasing and consumption. This study examines whether SSB marketing in weekly supermarket circulars, which retailers use to advertise products, is more prevalent during issuance periods c…
Effects of in-store marketing on food and beverage purchases
Objective: Most food retailers display foods in prominent locations as a marketing strategy (i.e. ‘placement promotions’). We examined the extent to which households with children change their food and beverage purchases in response to these promotions. Design: We analysed a novel dataset of all products promoted in two supermarkets from 2016 to 2017, including promotion dates and locations (e.g. aisle endcaps and front registers). We linked prom…
Household and child food insecurity and CVD risk factors in lower-income adolescents aged 12–17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016
Objective: Household food insecurity is associated with CVD risk factors in low-income adults, but research on these associations among adolescents is inconsistent. This study investigates whether household and child food insecurity is associated with CVD risk factors in lower-income adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between household and child food security and CVD risk factors. Househ…
Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics
US Food Industry Progress Toward Salt Reduction, 2009–2018
Objectives. To determine the extent to which reductions in sodium during the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI) target-setting period (2009–2014) continued after 2014. Methods. We used the NSRI Packaged Food Database, which links products in the top 80% of US packaged food sales to nutrition information, to assess the proportion of products meeting the NSRI targets and the sales-weighted mean sodium density (mg/100 g) of 54 packaged food c…
The Federal Menu Labeling Law and Twitter Discussions about Calories in the United States
Public awareness of calories in food sold in retail establishments is a primary objective of the menu labeling law. This study explores the extent to which we can use social media and internet search queries to understand whether the federal calorie labeling law increased awareness of calories. To evaluate the association of the federal menu labeling law with tweeting about calories we retrieved tweets that contained the term "calorie(s)" from th…
Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine
Objective: Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations – especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v . those who only shopped in-store. Design: We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univari…
Developing a National Research Agenda to Support Healthy Food Retail
The food retail environment is an important driver of dietary choices. This article presents a national agenda for research in food retail, with the goal of identifying policies and corporate practices that effectively promote healthy food and beverage purchases and decrease unhealthy purchases. The research agenda was developed through a multi-step process that included (1) convening a scientific advisory committee; (2) commissioned research; (3…
The Retail Food Environment
Food retailers, manufacturers, and distributors exert powerful influence on our food choices through decisions about stocking, pricing, marketing, and promotional practices [...]
Understanding price incentives to upsize combination meals at large US fast-food restaurants
Objective: To understand price incentives to upsize combination meals at fast-food restaurants by comparing the calories (i.e. kilocalories; 1 kcal = 4·184 kJ) per dollar of default combination meals (as advertised on the menu) with a higher-calorie version (created using realistic consumer additions and portion-size changes). Design: Combination meals (lunch/dinner: n 258, breakfast: n 68, children’s: n 34) and their prices were identified from …
Nutrition composition of children’s meals in twenty-six large US chain restaurants
Objective: To compare the nutritional quality of children’s combination meals offered at large US chain restaurants characterised by three versions – default (advertised), minimum (lower-energy) and maximum (higher-energy). Design: We identified default children’s meals ( n 92) from online restaurant menus, then constructed minimum and maximum versions using realistic additions, substitutions and/or portion size changes for existing menu items. N…
What factors influence ultra-processed food purchases and consumption in households with children? A comparison between participants and non-participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progr…
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Implementation of a Rooftop Farm Integrated With a Teaching Kitchen and Preventive Food Pantry in a Hospital Setting
Safety-net hospitals serving populations with disproportionately high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and chronic disease can utilize innovative strategies to improve the health and environment of their communities. Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, constructed an on-site rooftop farm to provide fresh produce for the hospital’s preventive food pantry, teaching kitchen, cafeterias, and inpatient meal services. This novel model ca…
Strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and increase water access and intake among young children
Objectives To summarize stakeholder recommendations and ratings of strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and increase water access and intake among young children (0–5 years). Design Two online surveys: survey 1 asked respondents to recommend novel and innovative strategies to promote healthy beverage behaviour; survey 2 asked respondents to rank each of these strategies on five domains (overall importance, feasibility, …
Consumer underestimation of sodium in fast food restaurant meals
Assessment of a government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and children’s dietary intakes
Objective To assess the impact of a new government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and dietary habits in children. Design A difference-in-difference study design was utilized. Setting Two neighbourhoods in the Bronx, New York City. Outcomes were collected in Morrisania, the target community where the new supermarket was opened, and Highbridge, the comparison community. Subjects Parents/caregivers of a chi…
Food Insecurity
What factors influence ultra-processed food purchases and consumption in households with children? A comparison between participants and non-participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progr…
Food Insecurity
Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Consumer underestimation of sodium in fast food restaurant meals
Implementation of a Rooftop Farm Integrated With a Teaching Kitchen and Preventive Food Pantry in a Hospital Setting
Safety-net hospitals serving populations with disproportionately high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and chronic disease can utilize innovative strategies to improve the health and environment of their communities. Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, constructed an on-site rooftop farm to provide fresh produce for the hospital’s preventive food pantry, teaching kitchen, cafeterias, and inpatient meal services. This novel model ca…
Food Insecurity
Assessment of a government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and children’s dietary intakes
Objective To assess the impact of a new government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and dietary habits in children. Design A difference-in-difference study design was utilized. Setting Two neighbourhoods in the Bronx, New York City. Outcomes were collected in Morrisania, the target community where the new supermarket was opened, and Highbridge, the comparison community. Subjects Parents/caregivers of a chi…
Consumer underestimation of sodium in fast food restaurant meals
Strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and increase water access and intake among young children
Objectives To summarize stakeholder recommendations and ratings of strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and increase water access and intake among young children (0–5 years). Design Two online surveys: survey 1 asked respondents to recommend novel and innovative strategies to promote healthy beverage behaviour; survey 2 asked respondents to rank each of these strategies on five domains (overall importance, feasibility, …
What factors influence ultra-processed food purchases and consumption in households with children? A comparison between participants and non-participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progr…
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Implementation of a Rooftop Farm Integrated With a Teaching Kitchen and Preventive Food Pantry in a Hospital Setting
Safety-net hospitals serving populations with disproportionately high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and chronic disease can utilize innovative strategies to improve the health and environment of their communities. Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, constructed an on-site rooftop farm to provide fresh produce for the hospital’s preventive food pantry, teaching kitchen, cafeterias, and inpatient meal services. This novel model ca…
Developing a National Research Agenda to Support Healthy Food Retail
The food retail environment is an important driver of dietary choices. This article presents a national agenda for research in food retail, with the goal of identifying policies and corporate practices that effectively promote healthy food and beverage purchases and decrease unhealthy purchases. The research agenda was developed through a multi-step process that included (1) convening a scientific advisory committee; (2) commissioned research; (3…
The Retail Food Environment
Food retailers, manufacturers, and distributors exert powerful influence on our food choices through decisions about stocking, pricing, marketing, and promotional practices [...]
Understanding price incentives to upsize combination meals at large US fast-food restaurants
Objective: To understand price incentives to upsize combination meals at fast-food restaurants by comparing the calories (i.e. kilocalories; 1 kcal = 4·184 kJ) per dollar of default combination meals (as advertised on the menu) with a higher-calorie version (created using realistic consumer additions and portion-size changes). Design: Combination meals (lunch/dinner: n 258, breakfast: n 68, children’s: n 34) and their prices were identified from …
Nutrition composition of children’s meals in twenty-six large US chain restaurants
Objective: To compare the nutritional quality of children’s combination meals offered at large US chain restaurants characterised by three versions – default (advertised), minimum (lower-energy) and maximum (higher-energy). Design: We identified default children’s meals ( n 92) from online restaurant menus, then constructed minimum and maximum versions using realistic additions, substitutions and/or portion size changes for existing menu items. N…
The Federal Menu Labeling Law and Twitter Discussions about Calories in the United States
Public awareness of calories in food sold in retail establishments is a primary objective of the menu labeling law. This study explores the extent to which we can use social media and internet search queries to understand whether the federal calorie labeling law increased awareness of calories. To evaluate the association of the federal menu labeling law with tweeting about calories we retrieved tweets that contained the term "calorie(s)" from th…
Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine
Objective: Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations – especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v . those who only shopped in-store. Design: We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univari…
Household and child food insecurity and CVD risk factors in lower-income adolescents aged 12–17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016
Objective: Household food insecurity is associated with CVD risk factors in low-income adults, but research on these associations among adolescents is inconsistent. This study investigates whether household and child food insecurity is associated with CVD risk factors in lower-income adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between household and child food security and CVD risk factors. Househ…
Front-of-package claims & imagery on fruit-flavored drinks and exposure by household demographics
US Food Industry Progress Toward Salt Reduction, 2009–2018
Objectives. To determine the extent to which reductions in sodium during the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI) target-setting period (2009–2014) continued after 2014. Methods. We used the NSRI Packaged Food Database, which links products in the top 80% of US packaged food sales to nutrition information, to assess the proportion of products meeting the NSRI targets and the sales-weighted mean sodium density (mg/100 g) of 54 packaged food c…
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program issuance timing is associated with sugar-sweetened beverage marketing in the USA
Objective: Prior research has shown that there are more supermarket displays of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) during times when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are distributed (‘issuance periods’). This may contribute to inequitable purchasing and consumption. This study examines whether SSB marketing in weekly supermarket circulars, which retailers use to advertise products, is more prevalent during issuance periods c…
Effects of in-store marketing on food and beverage purchases
Objective: Most food retailers display foods in prominent locations as a marketing strategy (i.e. ‘placement promotions’). We examined the extent to which households with children change their food and beverage purchases in response to these promotions. Design: We analysed a novel dataset of all products promoted in two supermarkets from 2016 to 2017, including promotion dates and locations (e.g. aisle endcaps and front registers). We linked prom…
Housing Quality Metric (HQM)
Objectives. To develop a national, tract-level measure of neighborhood housing quality and test its validity by examining associations with population health metrics. Methods. Using microdata from the 2021 American Housing Survey postfit to the 2018–2022 American Community Survey, we developed the Housing Quality Metric (HQM), which predicts the likelihood that a US census tract contains a large share of poor-quality housing units across 3 domain…
Modeling the Make America Healthy Again's Food Policy Strategy on Tobacco
This Viewpoint discusses the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report, which implicates the food industry for its role in the chronic disease epidemic
Medicine (15 works) · Business (11 works) · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling (11 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (11 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations (9 works) · Food insecurity (7 works) · Food Science (7 works) · Geography (7 works) · Marketing (7 works)