Neighborhoods and obesity in later life.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the influence of neighborhood environment on the weight status of adults 55 years and older.


METHODS
We conducted a 2-level logistic regression analysis of data from the 2002 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. We included 8 neighborhood scales: economic advantage, economic disadvantage, air pollution, crime and segregation, street connectivity, density, immigrant concentration, and residential stability.


RESULTS
When we controlled for individual- and family-level confounders, living in a neighborhood with a high level of economic advantage was associated with a lower likelihood of being obese for both men (odds ratio [OR] = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80, 0.94) and women (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.77, 0.89). Men living in areas with a high concentration of immigrants and women living in areas of high residential stability were more likely to be obese. Women living in areas of high street connectivity were less likely to be overweight or obese.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanisms by which neighborhood environment and weight status are linked in later life differ by gender, with economic and social environment aspects being important for men and built environment aspects being salient for women.
Grafova
Irina B
IB
Department of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. grafovib@umdnj.edu
Freedman
Vicki A
VA
Kumar
Rizie
R
Rogowski
Jeannette
J
D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003415:Crime; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000145:classification*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012179:Retirement / Q000191:economics; D012923:Social Class; D012924:Social Conditions; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
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