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Environmental correlates of adiposity in 9-10 year old children: Considering home and school neighbourhoods and routes to school

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  • Harrison, Flo
  • Jones, Andrew P.
  • van Sluijs, Esther M.F.
  • Cassidy, Aedín
  • Bentham, Graham
  • Griffin, Simon J.

Abstract

The rapid speed of the recent rise in obesity rates suggest environmental causes. There is therefore a need to determine which components of the environment may be contributing to this increase. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the associations between adiposity and the characteristics of areas around homes, schools and routes to school among 1995 9-10 year old boys and girls in Norfolk, UK. The relationships between Fat Mass Index (FMI, calculated as fat mass (kg)/height (m)2) and objectively computed environmental indicators describing access to food outlets and physical activity facilities, the safety and connectivity of the road network, and the mix of land uses present were investigated. Multivariable hierarchical regression models were fitted with log-transformed FMI as the outcome, and stratification by gender and mode of travel to school. Among girls, better access to healthy food outlets (supermarkets and greengrocers) in the home environment was associated with lower FMI while better access to unhealthy outlets (takeaways and convenience stores) around homes and schools was associated with higher FMI. Also in girls, a higher proportion of accessible open land and a lower mix of land uses around the school were associated with higher FMI. Among boys the presence of major roads in the home neighbourhood was associated with higher FMI among non-active travellers, while major roads in the school neighbourhood were associated with lower FMI among active travellers. No significant associations were seen between FMI and any of the route characteristics. While the relative paucity of associations provides few indicators for the design of effective interventions, there was some evidence that environmental characteristics may be more important among active travellers than non-active travellers, and among girls than boys, suggesting that future interventions should be sensitive to such differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrison, Flo & Jones, Andrew P. & van Sluijs, Esther M.F. & Cassidy, Aedín & Bentham, Graham & Griffin, Simon J., 2011. "Environmental correlates of adiposity in 9-10 year old children: Considering home and school neighbourhoods and routes to school," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(9), pages 1411-1419, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:72:y:2011:i:9:p:1411-1419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Austin, S.B. & Melly, S.J. & Sanchez, B.N. & Patel, A. & Buka, S. & Gortmaker, S.L., 2005. "Clustering of fast-food restaurants around schools: A novel application of spatial statistics to the study of food environments," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(9), pages 1575-1581.
    2. Davis, B. & Carpenter, C., 2009. "Proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools and adolescent obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(3), pages 505-510.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:3740 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Carroll-Scott, Amy & Gilstad-Hayden, Kathryn & Rosenthal, Lisa & Peters, Susan M. & McCaslin, Catherine & Joyce, Rebecca & Ickovics, Jeannette R., 2013. "Disentangling neighborhood contextual associations with child body mass index, diet, and physical activity: The role of built, socioeconomic, and social environments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 106-114.
    2. Johnston, David W. & Lordan, Grace, 2014. "Weight perceptions, weight control and income: An analysis using British data," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 132-139.
    3. Olsen, Jonathan R. & Mitchell, Richard & McCrorie, Paul & Ellaway, Anne, 2019. "Children's mobility and environmental exposures in urban landscapes: A cross-sectional study of 10–11 year old Scottish children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 11-22.

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