Association of Neighborhood Food Environment and Physical Activity Environment With Obesity: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study of Fifth- to Ninth-Grade Children in Japan

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between neighborhood food and physical activity environment, and obesity among elementary and junior high school students in Japan. Methods: The participants were fifth- to ninth-grade children (n=7277), who were attending municipal schools in Japan. Percent overweight (POW) was calculated using their age, gender, height, and weight, which were collected through a questionnaire. A POW of < 20% was considered non-obese, while ≥ 20% was considered obese. Furthermore, using a geographic information system, we investigated the density of convenience stores, fast-food stores, casual restaurants, supermarkets and department stores, parks, sports facilities, stations, and intersections in the school district. Additionally, from the census, we obtained information regarding the population density of the municipality where the participants’ schools were located. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between obesity and food environment (the food environment model), between obesity and physical activity environment (the physical activity environment model), and among obesity, food, and physical activity environment (the food and physical activity environment model). Results: In the food environment model and the food and physical activity environment model, the density of convenience stores showed a significant positive association. In the physical activity environment model, the density of stations showed a significant negative association. Conclusion: This study’s findings can contribute to the development of appropriate community interventions for improving children’s health in Japan and similar areas.

Neighborhood Availability and Use of Food, Physical Activity, and Social Services Facilities in Relation to Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

“…Both children classified as overweight and obese were included in the category “overweight (including obesity),” according to the terminology used by Cole et al 38 , 39 We chose to analyze overweight and obesity together because this is a commonly used approach in nutritional epidemiology and because our power calculations were made based on prevalence of overweight/obesity combined. 40 - 42 For the sake of simplicity, this study will refer to the latter category as “overweight.” As a way of compensating the students and school’s effort, at the end of the survey each participating school received an individualized report with their students’ assessments. Individually, each student also received his/her assessment.…”

Neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors moderate the association between physical activity and relative age effect: a cross-sectional survey study with Japanese adolescents

“…Among them, 76 schools (61 public school, 12 national school, 3 private school) of 78 schools accepted the survey. [ 20 ] The survey involved a self-report questionnaire. We asked the schools to give it to 11- to 18-year-old adolescents between 2017 and 2019.…”

“…19 Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Osaka Institute Technology, Hirakata, Japan. 20 Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan. 21 Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan.…”

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with the COVID-19 Incidence in Elementary School Children: An Ecological Study in Osaka City, Japan

“…Since elementary schools instruct children to avoid commuting to the school districts alone, these districts serve as both commuting and residential areas for school-going children. Therefore, school districts are frequently used to define the neighborhood in studies involving Japanese children [18,19].…”