title: Home and work neighbourhood environments in relation to body mass index: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the neighbourhood characteristics of workplaces, the extent to which they are independently and synergistically correlated with residential environments, and their impact on health.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated cross-sectional relationships between home and workplace neighbourhood environments with body mass index (BMI) in 1503 working participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with mean age 59.6 (SD=7.4). Neighbourhood features were socioeconomic status (SES), social environment (aesthetic quality, safety and social cohesion) and physical environment (walking environment, recreational facilities and food stores) derived from census data, locational data on businesses and survey data. Paired t tests and correlations compared environments overall and by distance between locations. Cross-classified multilevel models estimated associations with BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Home neighbourhoods had more favourable social environments while workplaces had more favourable SES and physical environments. Workplace and home measures were correlated (0.39-0.70), and differences between home and workplaces were larger as distance increased. Associations between BMI and neighbourhood SES and recreational facilities were stronger for home environment (p≤0.05) but did not significantly differ for healthy food, safety or social cohesion. Healthy food availability at home and work appeared to act synergistically (interaction p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consideration of workplace environment may enhance our understanding of how place affects BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, , Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diez Roux
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auchincloss
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evenson
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Mahasin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mujahid
authors.forename: Kayleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Epidemiology; Neighborhood/place; Obesity