Location Initiated Individualized Texts for African American Adolescent Health

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Obesity in the U.S. has disproportionately affected African American (AA) adolescents who have almost twice the prevalence of obesity than their Caucasian peers. This is due in part to greater exposure to, and higher consumption of, 'fast' and calorie dense foods among minority vs. majority populations. Finding effective ways to address dietary habits among AA adolescents is vital to avert the myriad illnesses related to obesity and the associated costs that are likely to cloud their future. Youth consume a significant proportion of their calories during school hours, often from two sources: 1) school meals and 2) fast food restaurants /convenience stores. For AA adolescents, school- related food choices are uniquely impacted by economic and environmental factors. Specifically, many are recipients of free/reduced meals, thus packing a lunch is less realistic. Furthermore, AA adolescents live and attend school in low-income communities with a disproportionally high nu