Peng Jia1, Hong Xue2, Xi Cheng3, Yaogang Wang4, Youfa Wang5. 1. Department of Earth Observation Science, Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede 7500 AE, Netherlands; International Initiative on Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE). Electronic address: jiapengff@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Health Behavior and Policy, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. 3. Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, NY, USA. 4. Department of Health Service Management, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China. 5. Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA; Systems-Oriented Global Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, Fisher Institute of Health and Well-Being, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA. Electronic address: youfawang@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The built environment is an important contributor to childhood obesity; however, large-scale and longitudinal studies designed to examine their associations remain limited. This study aimed to examine whether walkable neighborhoods were associated with childhood obesity risk over a 9-year period. METHODS: We used data collected in the US nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten (ECLS-K) Cohort, with 9440 kindergarteners followed up until their 8th grade (1998-2007). Four built environmental variables, street intersection density, residential density, fitness facility density, and recreational facility density, were calculated from national census, business, and road network datasets, and then matched with ECLS-K samples. Mixed-effect models were performed to estimate associations between built environments and child weight status. RESULTS: Children who experienced increased intersection density during 1998-2007 had a lower BMI in 2007 (β = -0.49, p < 0.01), especially girls (β = -0.79, p < 0.01) and suburban children (β = -0.66, p < 0.05). They also had lower obesity risk in 2007 (OR = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.66-0.94]), especially girls (OR = 0.68 [95% CI = 0.52-0.88]). Girls and boys who lived in neighborhoods with the higher (but not highest) residential density in 1998 showed lower obesity risk (OR = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.30-0.98]) and overweight risk (OR = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.30-0.95]) in 2007, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: National data indicate that in the US greater walkability in residential neighborhoods may lead to lower child BMI and obesity risk after nine years, and the association was stronger among girls and in suburban regions. This provides useful evidence for future obesity prevention and urban planning.
BACKGROUND: The built environment is an important contributor to childhood obesity; however, large-scale and longitudinal studies designed to examine their associations remain limited. This study aimed to examine whether walkable neighborhoods were associated with childhood obesity risk over a 9-year period. METHODS: We used data collected in the US nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten (ECLS-K) Cohort, with 9440 kindergarteners followed up until their 8th grade (1998-2007). Four built environmental variables, street intersection density, residential density, fitness facility density, and recreational facility density, were calculated from national census, business, and road network datasets, and then matched with ECLS-K samples. Mixed-effect models were performed to estimate associations between built environments and child weight status. RESULTS:Children who experienced increased intersection density during 1998-2007 had a lower BMI in 2007 (β = -0.49, p < 0.01), especially girls (β = -0.79, p < 0.01) and suburban children (β = -0.66, p < 0.05). They also had lower obesity risk in 2007 (OR = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.66-0.94]), especially girls (OR = 0.68 [95% CI = 0.52-0.88]). Girls and boys who lived in neighborhoods with the higher (but not highest) residential density in 1998 showed lower obesity risk (OR = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.30-0.98]) and overweight risk (OR = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.30-0.95]) in 2007, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: National data indicate that in the US greater walkability in residential neighborhoods may lead to lower child BMI and obesity risk after nine years, and the association was stronger among girls and in suburban regions. This provides useful evidence for future obesity prevention and urban planning.
Authors: Lizan D Bloemsma; Dana Dabelea; Deborah S K Thomas; Jennifer L Peel; John L Adgate; William B Allshouse; Sheena E Martenies; Sheryl Magzamen; Anne P Starling Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2021-11-09 Impact factor: 5.551
Authors: Kun Mei; Hong Huang; Fang Xia; Andy Hong; Xiang Chen; Chi Zhang; Ge Qiu; Gang Chen; Zhenfeng Wang; Chongjian Wang; Bo Yang; Qian Xiao; Peng Jia Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2020-07-28 Impact factor: 9.213
Authors: Dong Zhang; Rena R Jones; Tiffany M Powell-Wiley; Peng Jia; Peter James; Qian Xiao Journal: Environ Health Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 5.984