title: Physical activity mediates the relationship between perceived crime safety and obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current cross-sectional study tests whether low perceived crime safety is associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk and whether less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) accounts for part of this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (n=864) from a relatively low-income and ethnically mixed neighborhood in Salt Lake City UT (2012) were assessed for perceived crime safety, objective physical activity, and BMI measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This neighborhood had lower perceived safety than for other published studies utilizing this safety measure. In a mediation test, lower perceived crime safety was significantly associated with higher BMI and greater risk of obesity, net of control variables. Residents with lower perceived safety had less MVPA. Lower MVPA partially explained the relationship between less safety and both elevated BMI and higher obesity risk, suggesting that perceiving less crime safety limits MVPA which, in turn, increases weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this neighborhood, with relatively low perceived safety from crime, residents' low perceived safety is related to more obesity and higher BMI; lower MVPA among residents explained part of this relationship. If residents are to become more active in their neighborhood it may be important to address perceived crime safety as part of broader efforts to enhance active living.
authors: Department of Family and Consumer Studies, Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 225 S 1400 E RM 228, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Barbara B
authors: BB
authors: Brown
authors: Department of Psychology, 380S. 1530 E., RM 502 BSB, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Carol M
authors: CM
authors: Werner
authors: Department of Family and Consumer Studies, Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 225 S 1400 E RM 228, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Ken R
authors: KR
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Geography; University of Utah. Present address 1036 Derby Hall, 154 N. Oval Mall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors: Calvin P
authors: CP
authors: Tribby
authors: Department of Geography; University of Utah. Present address 1036 Derby Hall, 154 N. Oval Mall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors: Harvey J
authors: HJ
authors: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003415:Crime; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D012449:Safety; D014505:Urban Population; D014589:Utah
keywords: Body mass index; Fear; Obesity; Perceived safety; Physical activity; Walking