How does the built environment relate to body mass index and obesity prevalence among public housing residents?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined associations of environmental variables with obesity prevalence and individual body mass index (BMI) among impoverished residents of public housing developments.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were drawn from two studies in the same Midwestern metropolitan area of participants within neighborhoods.


METHODS
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).


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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 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. CONDUSION: Supportive neighborhood environments were related to lower obesity prevalence and lower BMI among residents.
Heinrich
Katie M
KM
University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. katiemh@hawaii.edu
Lee
Rebecca E
RE
Regan
Gail R
GR
Reese-Smith
Jacqueline Y
JY
Howard
Hugh H
HH
Haddock
C Keith
CK
Poston
Walker S Carlos
WS
Ahluwalia
Jasjit S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D011638:Public Housing; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification*