The built environment as determinant of childhood obesity: A systematic literature review

Malacarne, Diego; Handakas, Evangelos; Robinson, Oliver; Pineda, Elisa; Sáez, Marc; Chatzi, Leda; Fecht, Daniela

doi:10.1111/obr.13385

Cited by 42 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…According to current evidence, a child-friendly built environment has high walkability levels (e.g., well-connected streets) and provides access to recreational facilities (e.g., parks and playgrounds), that have been positively associated with physical activity (PA), including active commuting to/from school (ACS) and recreational play [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Furthermore, a positive built environment has a significant role in preventing non-communicable diseases reducing obesity rates, diabetes or coronary heart disease [ 1 , 4 , 12 ]. Although the causes of obesity are multifactorial, built environmental factors can potentially drive obesity-related behaviors [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, a positive built environment has a significant role in preventing non-communicable diseases reducing obesity rates, diabetes or coronary heart disease [ 1 , 4 , 12 ]. Although the causes of obesity are multifactorial, built environmental factors can potentially drive obesity-related behaviors [ 12 ]. The neighborhood built environment has significantly links to children’s behaviors, such as PA and sedentary lifestyles [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The neighborhood built environment has significantly links to children’s behaviors, such as PA and sedentary lifestyles [ 13 ]. Thus, built environment is considered a key determinant of health, including obesity, and lifestyle in childhood [ 12 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between Park and Playground Availability and Proximity and Children’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The BEACH Study

Molina‐García

Menescardi

Estevan

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds and physical activity (PA). Moreover, the accessibility to parks and playgrounds and its association with active commuting to/from school (ACS) and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. The sample was composed of children aged 6–12 years old from the BEACH (Built Environment and Active CHildren) study in Valencia, Spain. The availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds were calculated at different buffer sizes (250, 500, 1000 and 1250 m) using geographical information system data. PA out of school was assessed using accelerometers. Sociodemographics and ACS were measured with a parent questionnaire. Objectively measured weight and height were used to calculate BMI. Mixed linear regression analyses were conducted for each exposure variable, adjusting for sociodemographics, neighborhood walkability level, and participant clustering. The number of parks and playgrounds were positively associated with moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA); including light PA and MVPA, during weekdays, in different buffer sizes. A negative relationship between distance to the nearest playground and TPA during weekdays was found. In addition, the number of playgrounds was positively related to ACS in different buffer sizes, whereas park land area was negatively related to the BMI percentile. This study highlights the importance of assessing the availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds in children’s neighborhoods when PA behavior and weight status are analyzed. Study findings may help policymakers when targeting interventions to promote health-enhancing behaviors in children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between Park and Playground Availability and Proximity and Children’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The BEACH Study

Molina‐García

Menescardi

Estevan

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Today's society is increasingly obesogenic with food environments [29] and the built environment [30] being associated with childhood obesity. A recent study in Australia found that almost 75% of outdoor food advertisements within 500 m of primary and secondary schools promoted unhealthy foods and beverages [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mothers as advocates for healthier lifestyle behaviour environments for their children: results from INFANT 3.5-year follow-up

et al. 2022

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Background The amount of time children spend outside of their home environment has increased over the past decades. Therefore, the quality of the health behaviour environments where young children spend time is likely to impact their health behaviour opportunities. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of mothers who consider it possible to make changes in their local communities to increase opportunities for children to eat healthily, be physically active, and limit screen time exposure, as well as the proportion who have attempted to do so. The characteristics of mothers with differing advocacy beliefs and intentions were explored. Methods Cross-sectional data collected using questionnaires from 307 mothers who participated in the 3.5-year follow-up of the INFANT cluster-randomized controlled trial were used. Frequencies were used to assess the number of mothers who thought it possible to bring about change in their local communities and for the those who had attempted to do so. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to compare sociodemographic characteristics of mothers with differing responses. Results Most mothers thought it was possible to bring about change in their local community with regards to providing more opportunities for their child to eat healthily (83.7%), be physically active (90.9%) as well as limit exposure to screen time (63.5%). However, less than 19% and 11% of mothers have thought about or tried to bring about change in their child’s childcare centre or local community, respectively. No sociodemographic differences were found between the mothers who thought it was possible to bring about actioning change (p-values > 0.1) or for those that have thought about change (p-values > 0.1). Conclusion As children are continuously being exposed to obesogenic environments future quantitative and qualitative studies are needed to describe how to promote parental advocacy and engagement, in order to provide children with environments that support healthy lifestyle behaviours.

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“…On the other hand, there is limited evidence on the association between perceived urban environment attributes and obesity indices 9,17,18 . Epidemiologic studies 17 and systematic reviews [19][20][21] indicate that the findings of these associations are varied. Although some of the apparent discrepancies could be due to diversity of procedures engaged, the main issue that may clarify this variety in results is the limited variability.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived urban environment attributes and obesity indices in adults: an 8-Nation study from Latin America

Ferrari

Alberico

Marques

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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This study examines the associations between perceived urban environment attributes and obesity indices by country using data from an eight-nation study from Latin America. The data were collected from 8185 adults. The Neighbourhood Environment Walkability-abbreviated scale was used to assess perceived urban environment attributes. Obesity indices considered were body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference, a body shape index and waist-to-height ratio. The perception of a more and better land use mix-diversity (β − 0.44; 95% CI − 0.59, − 0.28), traffic safety (− 0.39; − 0.66, − 0.12), and safety from crime (− 0.36; − 0.57, − 0.15) was associated with lower body mass index across the entire sample. Land use mix-diversity (− 1.21; − 1.60, − 0.82), street connectivity (− 0.26; − 0.37, − 0.15), and traffic safety (− 0.79; − 1.47, − 0.12) were negatively associated with waist circumference. Land use mix-diversity (− 0.11; − 0.20, − 0.03), land use mix-access (− 0.23; − 0.34, 0.12), walking/cycling facilities (− 0.22; − 0.37, − 0.08), and safety from crime (− 0.27; − 0.42, − 0.12) were negatively associated with neck circumference. No associations between perceived urban environment attributes and a body shape index were found. Land use mix-diversity (− 0.01; − 0.02, − 0.01), aesthetics (− 0.02; − 0.03, − 0.01), and safety from crime (− 0.02; − 0.04, − 0.01) were associated with waist-to-height ratio. Environmental interventions involving urban environment attributes are associated with obesity indices and, therefore, may help decrease the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

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The built environment as determinant of childhood obesity: A systematic literature review

Cited by 42 publications

References 82 publications

Associations between Park and Playground Availability and Proximity and Children’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The BEACH Study

Associations between Park and Playground Availability and Proximity and Children’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The BEACH Study

Mothers as advocates for healthier lifestyle behaviour environments for their children: results from INFANT 3.5-year follow-up

Perceived urban environment attributes and obesity indices in adults: an 8-Nation study from Latin America

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