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Filgueiras MDS, Pessoa MC, Bressan J, Fogal Vegi AS, do Carmo AS, Albuquerque FMD, Gardone DS, Novaes JFD. Characteristics of the obesogenic environment around schools are associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:2407-2417. [PMID: 37559196 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the association of obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. Body adiposity was assessed using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and chemerin were measured. Predominantly ultra-processed food (UPF) stores, public physical activity (PA) facilities, green spaces, walkability, traffic accidents and crime were evaluated. The neighbourhood unit was the 400 m (0·25 miles) road network buffer around schools. The association of environmental characteristics with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations was assessed by linear regression models using generalised estimating equations. SETTING Urban schools (n 24), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS Children aged 8 and 9 years (n 378). RESULTS A higher density of predominantly UPF stores and a lower percentage of green space were associated with higher total (β: 0·12; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·18 and β: -0·10; 95 % CI -0·16, -0·04, respectively) and android body fat (β: 0·28; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·43 and β: -0·18; 95 % CI -0·32, -0·04, respectively). In addition, the densities of PA facilities and crime were inversely associated with leptin concentrations. Traffic accidents density and percentage of green spaces around schools had, respectively, a positive and an inverse association with concentrations of adiponectin and RBP4. CONCLUSIONS Obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools were associated with total and android body fat, as well as with pro-inflammatory adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children from a medium-sized city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana De Santis Filgueiras
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/n, Centro de Ciências Biológicas II, Campus Universitário, Viçosa36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Milene Cristine Pessoa
- Department of Nutrition, Nursing School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Josefina Bressan
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/n, Centro de Ciências Biológicas II, Campus Universitário, Viçosa36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aline Siqueira Fogal Vegi
- Nutrition School, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Rua Dois, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ariene Silva do Carmo
- Department of Nutrition, Nursing School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Martins de Albuquerque
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/n, Centro de Ciências Biológicas II, Campus Universitário, Viçosa36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Danielle Soares Gardone
- Department of Nutrition, Nursing School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Farias de Novaes
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/n, Centro de Ciências Biológicas II, Campus Universitário, Viçosa36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Jabeen A, Afzal MS, Pathan SA. A Review of the Role of Built Environment and Temperature in the Development of Childhood Obesity. Cureus 2023; 15:e49657. [PMID: 38161805 PMCID: PMC10756253 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The burden of obesity is rising globally and is studied widely, yet the evidence for the association of environmental factors (both built and natural) with childhood obesity remains inconsistent. A relation with temperature as a proxy for natural environmental factors for obesity has not been reviewed previously. The purpose of this review was to assimilate updated evidence on environmental factors of childhood obesity. Three databases, MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Web of Science, and Cochrane, were searched for articles related to the effect of built environment and temperature on childhood obesity in 6-12-year-olds published in the last five years. Twelve studies were identified: four longitudinal and eight cross-sectional. The studies were appraised using the National Institute of Health Quality (NIH) Assessment Tool. A review of included studies showed that built environmental features like higher residential and population density, higher intersection density, more playgrounds, and all park features like the presence or availability of parks, high number of parks, proximity to parks, and an increased park land area, showed a protective association against childhood obesity while land use mix showed a promoting association for the development of childhood obesity. Inconclusive evidence was observed for other built environmental features. The search strategy did not retrieve any literature published in the past five years studying the association between temperature and the development of childhood obesity. Standardization of definitions of exposure and outcome measures is recommended. Further research studying the relationship between environmental temperature and the development of childhood obesity is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atika Jabeen
- Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, GBR
- Emergency Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT
| | | | - Sameer A Pathan
- Emergency Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT
- Emergency Medicine, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, GBR
- Emergency Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AUS
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Measuring the Built Environment in Studies of Child Health-A Meta-Narrative Review of Associations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010741. [PMID: 34682484 PMCID: PMC8535212 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although the built environment (BE) is important for children’s health, there is little consensus about which features are most important due to differences in measurement and outcomes across disciplines. This meta-narrative review was undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers to summarise ways in which the BE is measured, and how this links to children’s health. A structured search of four databases across the relevant disciplines retrieved 108 relevant references. The most commonly addressed health-related outcomes were active travel, physical activity and play, and obesity. Many studies used objective (GIS and street audits) or standardised subjective (perceived) measurements of the BE. However, there was a wide variety, and sometimes inconsistency, in their definition and use. There were clear associations between the BE and children’s health. Objective physical activity and self-reported active travel, or obesity, were positively associated with higher street connectivity or walkability measures, while self-reported physical activity and play had the strongest association with reduced street connectivity, indicated by quieter, one-way streets. Despite the high heterogeneity found in BE measures and health outcomes, the meta-narrative approach enabled us to identify ten BE categories that are likely to support children’s health and be protective against some non-communicable disease risk factors. Future research should implement consistent BE measures to ensure key features are explored. A systems approach will be particularly relevant for addressing place-based health inequalities, given potential unintended health consequences of making changes to the BE.
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Besor O, Paltiel O, Manor O, Donchin M, Rauch O, Kaufman-Shriqui V. Associations between density and quality of health promotion programmes and built environment features across Jerusalem. Eur J Public Health 2021; 31:1190-1196. [PMID: 34568902 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health promotion programmes (HPPs) have the potential to influence individual health, depending on their quality and characteristics. Little is known about how they interact with built environment features and neighbourhood demographics in cities with substantial health disparities. METHODS Using the European Quality Instrument for Health Promotion (EQUIHP), we assessed the quality of HPPs, operating between 2016 and 2017, among adults aged 18-75 in Jerusalem. Areas were characterized by ethnicity and area socioeconomic level. Health information (body mass index, physical activity level) was obtained from the city profile survey. Geospatial information on the location and length of walking paths and bicycle lanes was obtained. Spearman correlations were used to assess associations among variables. RESULTS Ninety-three HPPs operating in 349 locations in Jerusalem were identified. Programmes were unevenly distributed across urban planning areas (UPAs), with the highest density observed in the southwest, areas populated mainly by non-orthodox Jewish residents. However, the best performing HPPs based on EQUIHP score were in the north and east UPAs, inhabited primarily by Arab residents. At a neighbourhood level, characteristics of the built environment positively correlated with higher total EQUIHP scores: the ratio between walking lane length to the neighbourhood's population size (r = 0.413, P < 0.001) and length of bicycle lane per population (r = 0.309, P = 0.5). Median EQUIHP score negatively correlated with the number of programmes per neighbourhood size (m2) (r = -0.327, P = 0.006) and neighbourhood average socioeconomic status (SES; r = -0.266, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher quality HPPs were preferentially located in areas of lower SES and served minority populations in Jerusalem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omri Besor
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ora Paltiel
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orly Manor
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Milka Donchin
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orly Rauch
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Vered Kaufman-Shriqui
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.,Centre for Urban Health Solutions (C-UHS), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
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Abstract
Childhood obesity is a global health concern. Air pollution is also a crucial health threat, especially in developing countries. Over the past decade, a number of epidemiologic and animal studies have suggested a possible role of pre- or postnatal exposure to air pollutants on childhood obesity. Although no clear mechanism has been elucidated, physical inactivity, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications have been suggested as possible mechanisms by which obesity develops due to air pollution. In this review, we summarize and review previous epidemiologic studies linking air pollution and childhood obesity and discuss the possible mechanisms underlying air pollution-induced obesity based on in vivo and in vitro evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Young Seo
- Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shin-Hye Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Jung Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Socio-economic and Regional Differences in Walkability and Greenspace Around Primary Schools: A Census of Australian Primary School Neighbourhoods. J Community Health 2020; 46:98-107. [DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00851-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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