Obesity and the built environment among Massachusetts children.
BACKGROUND
The built environment may influence weight status.


METHODS
Using cross-sectional data for children aged 2 to 18 years, the authors linked clinical and spatial data using geographic information systems and analyzed for associations between body mass index (BMI) and density of and distance to nearest built environment variable (schools, sidewalks, subway stations, bicycle trails, open space, and fast-food restaurants) using bivariate and multilevel analyses.


RESULTS
The study sampled 21 008 children; 54% were white, 26% Hispanic, 37% overweight, and 20% obese. In bivariate analysis, distance to nearest fast-food restaurant was inversely associated with BMI, whereas density of fast-food restaurants was positively associated with BMI. Distance to school and subway station, amount of open space, and density of subway stations were inversely associated with BMI. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, only living near a greater density of subway stations was inversely associated with overweight (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.94) and obesity (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Distance to nearest subway station is associated with BMI among Massachusetts children.
Oreskovic
Nicolas M
NM
Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. nicolas.oreskovic@gmail.com
Winickoff
Jonathan P
JP
Kuhlthau
Karen A
KA
Romm
Diane
D
Perrin
James M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors