The association between overweight and opportunity structures in the built environment: a multi-level analysis among elementary school youth in the PLAY-ON study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine school-level opportunity structures of the built environment and student characteristics associated with being overweight.


METHODS
Multi-level logistic regression analysis were used to examine the school- and student-level characteristics associated with the odds of a student being overweight among grade 5-8 students attending 30 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada, as part of the Play-Ontario (PLAY-ON) study.


RESULTS
Significant between school random variation in overweight was identified [σ²(μ0)= 0.187 (0.084), P < 0.001]; school-level differences accounted for 5.4% of the variability in the odds of a student being overweight. The more fast-food retailers there were surrounding a school, the more likely a student was to be overweight; students in grade 5 were at increased risk relative to students in grades 6-8. The more grocery stores there were surrounding a school, the more likely a student was to be overweight; students in grade 5 were at increased risk relative to students in grades 6-8.


CONCLUSIONS
Developing a better understanding of the school- and student-level characteristics associated with overweight among youth is critical for informing intervention programs and policies.
Department of Population Studies and Surveillance, Cancer Care Ontario, 620 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2L7, Canada. scott.leatherdale@cancercare.on.ca
Scott T
ST
Leatherdale
Theodora
T
Pouliou
Dana
D
Church
Erin
E
Hobin
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009864:Ontario; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students