title: Neighborhoods and obesity in later life.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Irina B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Grafova
authors.forename: Vicki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Rizie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogowski
mesh_terms: 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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