Mariana Arcaya1, Peter James2, Jean E Rhodes3, Mary C Waters4, S V Subramanian5. 1. Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: marcaya@hsph.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: pjames@hsph.harvard.edu. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Jean.Rhodes@umb.edu. 4. Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: mcw@wjh.harvard.edu. 5. Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: svsubram@hsph.harvard.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Existing research suggests that walkable environments are protective against weight gain, while sprawling neighborhoods may pose health risks. Using prospective data on displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors, we provide the first natural experimental data on sprawl and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The analysis uses prospectively collected pre- (2003-2005) and post-hurricane (2006-2007) data from the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project on 280 displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors who had little control over their neighborhood placement immediately after the disaster. The county sprawl index, a standardized measure of built environment, was used to predict BMI at follow-up, adjusted for baseline BMI and sprawl; hurricane-related trauma; and demographic and economic characteristics. RESULTS: Respondents from 8 New Orleans-area counties were dispersed to 76 counties post-Katrina. Sprawl increased by an average of 1.5 standard deviations (30 points) on the county sprawl index. Each one point increase in sprawl was associated with approximately .05kg/m(2) higher BMI in unadjusted models (95%CI: .01-.08), and the relationship was not attenuated after covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: We find a robust association between residence in a sprawling county and higher BMI unlikely to be caused by self-selection into neighborhoods, suggesting that the built environment may foster changes in weight.
OBJECTIVE: Existing research suggests that walkable environments are protective against weight gain, while sprawling neighborhoods may pose health risks. Using prospective data on displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors, we provide the first natural experimental data on sprawl and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The analysis uses prospectively collected pre- (2003-2005) and post-hurricane (2006-2007) data from the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project on 280 displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors who had little control over their neighborhood placement immediately after the disaster. The county sprawl index, a standardized measure of built environment, was used to predict BMI at follow-up, adjusted for baseline BMI and sprawl; hurricane-related trauma; and demographic and economic characteristics. RESULTS: Respondents from 8 New Orleans-area counties were dispersed to 76 counties post-Katrina. Sprawl increased by an average of 1.5 standard deviations (30 points) on the county sprawl index. Each one point increase in sprawl was associated with approximately .05kg/m(2) higher BMI in unadjusted models (95%CI: .01-.08), and the relationship was not attenuated after covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: We find a robust association between residence in a sprawling county and higher BMI unlikely to be caused by self-selection into neighborhoods, suggesting that the built environment may foster changes in weight.
Authors: Fuzhong Li; Peter Harmer; Bradley J Cardinal; Mark Bosworth; Deborah Johnson-Shelton; Jane M Moore; Alan Acock; Naruepon Vongjaturapat Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2009-01-19 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Audrey de Nazelle; Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen; Josep M Antó; Michael Brauer; David Briggs; Charlotte Braun-Fahrlander; Nick Cavill; Ashley R Cooper; Hélène Desqueyroux; Scott Fruin; Gerard Hoek; Luc Int Panis; Nicole Janssen; Michael Jerrett; Michael Joffe; Zorana Jovanovic Andersen; Elise van Kempen; Simon Kingham; Nadine Kubesch; Kevin M Leyden; Julian D Marshall; Jaume Matamala; Giorgos Mellios; Michelle Mendez; Hala Nassif; David Ogilvie; Rosana Peiró; Katherine Pérez; Ari Rabl; Martina Ragettli; Daniel Rodríguez; David Rojas; Pablo Ruiz; James F Sallis; Jeroen Terwoert; Jean-François Toussaint; Jouni Tuomisto; Moniek Zuurbier; Erik Lebret Journal: Environ Int Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Peter James; Philip J Troped; Jaime E Hart; Corinne E Joshu; Graham A Colditz; Ross C Brownson; Reid Ewing; Francine Laden Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-06-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: James F Sallis; Brian E Saelens; Lawrence D Frank; Terry L Conway; Donald J Slymen; Kelli L Cain; James E Chapman; Jacqueline Kerr Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2009-02-18 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Krista Casazza; Kevin R Fontaine; Arne Astrup; Leann L Birch; Andrew W Brown; Michelle M Bohan Brown; Nefertiti Durant; Gareth Dutton; E Michael Foster; Steven B Heymsfield; Kerry McIver; Tapan Mehta; Nir Menachemi; P K Newby; Russell Pate; Barbara J Rolls; Bisakha Sen; Daniel L Smith; Diana M Thomas; David B Allison Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2013-01-31 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Alina Schnake-Mahl; Benjamin D Sommers; S V Subramanian; Mary C Waters; Mariana Arcaya Journal: Health Place Date: 2019-11-15 Impact factor: 4.078
Authors: Peter James; Jaime E Hart; Mariana C Arcaya; Diane Feskanich; Francine Laden; S V Subramanian Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-10-08 Impact factor: 3.390