TY - JOUR
T1 - How does the built environment relate to body mass index and obesity prevalence among public housing residents?
AU - Heinrich, Katie M.
AU - Lee, Rebecca E.
AU - Regan, Gail R.
AU - Reese-Smith, Jacqueline Y.
AU - Howard, Hugh H.
AU - Haddock, C. Keith
AU - Poston, Walker S.Carlos
AU - Ahluwalia, Jasjit S.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Purpose. This study examined associations of environmental variables with obesity prevalence and individual body mass index (BMI) among impoverished residents of public housing developments. Design. Cross-sectional data were drawn from two studies in the same Midwestern metropolitan area of participants within neighborhoods. Setting. Pathways to Health interviewed housing development residents and Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity assessed built environment factors in the surrounding neighborhoods (i.e., 800-m radius from center of housing development). Subjects. Four hundred twenty-one residents participated (mean age = 43.8 years; 72.0 % women, 59.6% high school degree, 79.6% African-American). Fifty-five physical activity resources were identified and assessed. Measures. Demographics and measured weights and heights were obtained for participants. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment measured the type, accessibility, features, amenities, qualities, and incivilities of neighborhood physical activity resources. Neighborhood street connectivity was also measured. Results. Average age-adjusted BMI was 31.4 (SD = 1.3), with 45% of residents obese. High negative correlations were found between BMI and street connectivity (p = . 05) and between obesity prevalence and resource accessibility (p = .09), number of amenities (p = .04), and amenity quality (p = .04). Higher resource accessibility, feature quality, number of amenities, and fewer incivilities per resource accounted for 71% of obesity variance (p < .05). Male gender and higher feature quality, F(11, 407) 37.19 and 12.66, p < .001, predicted lower BMI among residents. Conclusion. Supportive neighborhood environments were related to lower obesity prevalence and lower BMI among residents.
AB - Purpose. This study examined associations of environmental variables with obesity prevalence and individual body mass index (BMI) among impoverished residents of public housing developments. Design. Cross-sectional data were drawn from two studies in the same Midwestern metropolitan area of participants within neighborhoods. Setting. Pathways to Health interviewed housing development residents and Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity assessed built environment factors in the surrounding neighborhoods (i.e., 800-m radius from center of housing development). Subjects. Four hundred twenty-one residents participated (mean age = 43.8 years; 72.0 % women, 59.6% high school degree, 79.6% African-American). Fifty-five physical activity resources were identified and assessed. Measures. Demographics and measured weights and heights were obtained for participants. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment measured the type, accessibility, features, amenities, qualities, and incivilities of neighborhood physical activity resources. Neighborhood street connectivity was also measured. Results. Average age-adjusted BMI was 31.4 (SD = 1.3), with 45% of residents obese. High negative correlations were found between BMI and street connectivity (p = . 05) and between obesity prevalence and resource accessibility (p = .09), number of amenities (p = .04), and amenity quality (p = .04). Higher resource accessibility, feature quality, number of amenities, and fewer incivilities per resource accounted for 71% of obesity variance (p < .05). Male gender and higher feature quality, F(11, 407) 37.19 and 12.66, p < .001, predicted lower BMI among residents. Conclusion. Supportive neighborhood environments were related to lower obesity prevalence and lower BMI among residents.
KW - Body mass index (BMI)
KW - Built environment
KW - Obesity
KW - Overweight
KW - Physical activity
KW - Prevention research
KW - Public housing
KW - Resources
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U2 - 10.4278/ajhp.22.3.187
DO - 10.4278/ajhp.22.3.187
M3 - Article
C2 - 18251120
AN - SCOPUS:38049023434
VL - 22
SP - 187
EP - 194
JO - American Journal of Health Promotion
JF - American Journal of Health Promotion
SN - 0890-1171
IS - 3
ER -