Green neighborhoods, food retail and childhood overweight: differences by population density.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines relationships between overweight in children and two environmentalfactors--amount of vegetation surrounding a child's place of residence and proximity of the child's residence to various types of food retail locations. We hypothesize that living in greener neighborhoods, farther from fast food restaurants, and closer to supermarkets would be associated with lower risk of overweight.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Network of primary care pediatric clinics in Marion County, Indiana.


METHODS
We acquired data for 7334 subjects, ages 3 to 18 years, presenting for routine well-child care.


METHODS
Neighborhood vegetation and proximity to food retail were calculated using geographic information systems for each subject using circular and network buffers. Child weight status was defined using body mass index percentiles. Analysis. We used cumulative logit models to examine associations between an index of overweight, neighborhood vegetation, and food retail environment.


RESULTS
After controlling for individual socio-demographics and neighborhood socioeconomic status, measures of vegetation and food retail significantly predicted overweight in children. Increased neighborhood vegetation was associated with decreased risk for overweight, but only for subjects residing in higher population density regions. Increased distance between a subject's residence and the nearest large brand name supermarkets was associated with increased risk of overweight, but only for subjects residing in lower population density regions.


CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that aspects of the built environment are determinants of child weight status, ostensibly by influencing physical activity and dietary behaviors.
Liu
Gilbert C
GC
Indiana University School of Medicine, Pediatrics, Riley Research Bldg 330, 699 West Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. gcliu@iupui.edu
Wilson
Jeffrey S
JS
Qi
Rong
R
Ying
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004779:Environment Design; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D005843:Geography; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight; D010944:Plants; D011156:Population Density; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors