Individual and socio-environmental determinants of overweight and obesity in Urban Canada.
Overweight/obesity represent a significant public health problem in Canada and abroad. The objective of this paper is to identify potential associations between overweight/obesity and individual as well as socio-environmental determinants. The data sources used are the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey and the Desktop Mapping Technologies Incorporated database. Geographical Information Systems are first employed to create neighbourhood-level variables such as neighbourhood walkability and fast food accessibility. Multivariate analysis is then applied to estimate the relative effects of individual- and neighbourhood-level risk-factors of overweight/obesity. Results demonstrate the important role of the built-environment after adjustment for demographic, socio-economic and behavioural characteristics. Findings support the rationale that reversing current trends will require a multifaceted public health approach where interventions are developed from the individual- to the neighbourhood-level, with a particular focus on altering obesogenic environments.
Pouliou
Theodora
T
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. pouliot@mcmaster.ca
Elliott
Susan J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors