The association between overweight and opportunity structures in the built environment: a multi-level analysis among elementary school youth in the PLAY-ON study

Leatherdale, Scott T.; Pouliou, Theodora; Church, Dana; Hobin, Erin

doi:10.1007/s00038-010-0206-8

Cited by 28 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Several other studies have considered the fast-food environment around schools. This research suggests that fast-food restaurants tend to cluster around schools (Austin et al 2005;Davis and Carpenter 2009) and that the number of fast-food restaurants in school neighbourhoods contributes to the eating behaviours and weight status of students (Leatherdale et al 2011;Seliske et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school

Laxer

Janssen

2014

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

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The study objective was to estimate the proportion of excessive fast-food consumption by youth that is attributable to living and attending school in a neighbourhood with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. This was a cross-sectional study of 6099 Canadian youths (aged 11-15 years) from 255 school neighbourhoods. All participants lived within 1 km of their school. The density of chain fast-food restaurants within a 1-km circular buffer surrounding each school was determined using geographic information systems. Excessive fast-food consumption (≥2 times per week) was assessed by questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations. The population attributable risk estimates of excessive fast-food consumption due to neighbourhood exposure to fast-food restaurants were determined based on the prevalence of exposure and the results from the logistic regression. Eight percent of participants were excessive fast-food consumers. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (i.e., gender, race, and socioeconomic status), it was found that youths from neighbourhoods with a moderate (odds ratio (OR), 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-2.54) or high (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.12-2.56) density of chain fast-food restaurants were more likely to be excessive fast-food consumers than were youths from neighbourhoods with no chain fast-food restaurants. Approximately 31% of excessive consumption was attributable to living in neighbourhoods with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. Thus, the fast-food retail environment within which youth live and go to school is an important contributor to their eating behaviours.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school

Laxer

Janssen

2014

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

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“…Given the different data collection protocols required for respondents of this age range, there were two separate study arms of the PLAY-On host study: the first arm of the study was among respondents in grades 5 to 8 (aged 10 to 13 years) and the second arm of the study was among respondents in grades 1 to 4 (aged 6 to 9 years). Research has previously examined the school-level factors associated with overweight [9,10] and PA [11] among the grade 5 to 8 respondents in PLAY-On, and the school-level factors associated with PA among the grade 1 to 4 respondents in PLAY-On [19]. The following study examines the sample of data collected from grade 1 to 4 respondents in PLAY-On.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The following study examines the sample of data collected from grade 1 to 4 respondents in PLAY-On. Additional details on the PLAY-On host study are available [9-12]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research among older youth has identified the school environment as being an important context for weight status [9-17]. For instance, existing evidence suggests that there is modest variability in overweight between schools (~2-5%), demographic characteristics (e.g., school size and school socioeconomic status) appear to be associated with the risk of overweight [17], and school-based PA programs do not appear to improve body mass index (BMI) in children [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A cross-sectional examination of school characteristics associated with overweight and obesity among grade 1 to 4 students

Leatherdale

2013

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundExcessive weight gain among youth is an ongoing public health concern. Despite evidence linking both policies and the built environment to adolescent and adult overweight, the association between health policies or the built environment and overweight are often overlooked in research with children. The purpose of this study was to examine if school-based physical activity policies and the built environment surrounding a school are associated with weight status among children.MethodsObjectively measured height and weight data were available for 2,331 grade 1 to 4 students (aged 6 to 9 years) attending 30 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada. Student-level data were collected using parent reports and the PLAY-On questionnaire administered to students by study nurses. School-level policy data were collected from school administrators using the Physical Activity Module of the Healthy School Planner tool, and built environment data were provided by the Enhanced Points of Interest data resource. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to examine the school- and student-level characteristics associated with the odds of a student being overweight or obese.ResultsThere was significant between-school random variation in the odds of a student being overweight [σ2μ0 = 0.274(0.106), p < 0.001], but not for being obese [σ2μ0 = 0.115(0.089)]. If a student attended a school that provided student access to a variety of facilities on and off school grounds during school hours or supported active transportation to and from school, he/she was less likely to overweight than a similar student attending a school without these policies. Characteristics of the built environment were not associated with overweight or obesity among this large cross-sectional sample of children.ConclusionsThis new evidence suggests that it may be wise to target obesity prevention efforts to schools that do not provide student access to recreation facilities during school hours or schools that do not support active transportation for students. Future research should evaluate if school-based overweight and obesity prevention programming might be improved if interventions selectively targeted the school characteristics that are putting students at the greatest risk.

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“…95,96 Researchers have used various approaches to examine associations between BE factors and childhood obesity. [95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108] Evidence in the literature shows that improvements to the BE (e.g., places to exercise, green space, sidewalks, recreational areas, neighborhood safety, food access and healthier food options) will increase physical activity, potentially resulting in a decrease in obesity. 94,97,98,109 Decreased activity levels have been found when these services are difficult to access.…”

Section: Built Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical and non-chemical stressors affecting childhood obesity: a systematic scoping review

Lichtveld

Thomas

Tulve

2017

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Childhood obesity in the United States has doubled over the last three decades and currently affects 17% of children and adolescents. While much research has focused on individual behaviors impacting obesity, little research has emphasized the complex interactions of numerous chemical and non-chemical stressors found in a child's environment and how these interactions affect a child's health and well-being. The objectives of this systematic scoping review were to (1) identify potential chemical stressors in the context of non-chemical stressors that impact childhood obesity; and, (2) summarize our observations for chemical and non-chemical stressors in regards to child-specific environments within a community setting. A review was conducted to identify chemical and non-chemical stressors related to childhood obesity for the childhood life stages ranging from prenatal to adolescence. Stressors were identified and grouped into domains: individual behaviors, family/household behaviors, community stressors, and chemical exposures. Stressors were related to the child and the child's everyday environments and used to characterize child health and well-being. This review suggests that the interactions of chemical and non-chemical stressors are important for understanding a child's overall health and well-being. By considering these relationships, the exposure science research community can better design and implement strategies to reduce childhood obesity.

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The association between overweight and opportunity structures in the built environment: a multi-level analysis among elementary school youth in the PLAY-ON study

Abstract: Developing a better understanding of the school- and student-level characteristics associated with overweight among youth is critical for informing intervention programs and policies.

Cited by 28 publications

References 34 publications

The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school

The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school

A cross-sectional examination of school characteristics associated with overweight and obesity among grade 1 to 4 students

Chemical and non-chemical stressors affecting childhood obesity: a systematic scoping review

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