title: Household density and obesity in young black and white adults.
abstract: Racial and ethnic disparities in obesity persist despite a narrowing in obesity risk associated with socioeconomic status. The household environment has been shown to be important in understanding obesity-promoting behaviors in diverse populations. Our current study was designed to examine the relationship between household density and obesity in young Black and White adults aged 18-30 years from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort. All sociodemographic and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) information for this study was collected by questionnaire between 1990-1991. Height was collected using a mounted centimeter ruler. Weight was measured on a balance beam scale. Obesity was defined as a body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2. Household density (HD) was defined as the ratio of people to bedrooms in the home. High HD was defined as a ratio > 1. Bivariate analysis showed that more women tend to live in high density households compared to men (45.4% vs 38.9%; P < .01) and more Blacks tend to live in high density households compared to Whites (53.7% vs 31.8%). Leisure-time physical activity index was lower in Blacks than in Whites (2.5% vs 2.6%; P < .01). Blacks had a higher prevalence of obesity than Whites (27.1% vs 11.8%; P < .01). Logistic regression analysis showed that Black women within high HD were at highest risk for obesity compared to White women living within low HD (OR = 4.88%; 95% CI: 3.56-6.67). HD may provide an important context in understanding racial disparities in obesity-promoting behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Department of Family and Social Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Mazer 408, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. earle.chambers@einstein.yu.edu
authors.forename: Earle C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Clyde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schechter
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tow
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torrens
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohlieber
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calderon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D012923:Social Class; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult