As mentioned before, it is evident that the type of built environment you live in affects the risk of obesity. Studies conducted on different neighbourhoods further support this claim. A study by CE Joshu et. al examined the relationship between personal barriers and neighbourhood barriers for risk factors of obesity. Probably a no-brainer to most, both increased personal and neighbourhood barriers correlated with increased odds of obesity.
The sub-analysis conducted describes interesting results for how built environments impact obesity. The study showed that neighbourhood barriers and personal barriers differed based on the level of urbanization in a community. The personal barriers to living a healthy in all communities that the study was conducted in, were similar in frequency. However here are some differences in how personal and neighbourhood characteristics varied in their impact on obesity across different levels of urbanization, and some explanations:
- Metropolitan: High traffic
The authors also considered macro-level impact of urbanization and how that related to personal and neighbourhood barriers on impact of risk for obesity. There was a higher community sprawl related to higher incidence of obesity, and the risk of this association increased with increased number of personal barriers. Joshu et. al attribute this to the interplay that takes place in development of personal barriers to a healthy lifestyle and the environment one lives in. Environments conducive to a healthy lifestyle (more likely to be compact and low sprawl communities) help to offset personal barriers and other risks of obesity.
The sub-analysis conducted describes interesting results for how built environments impact obesity. The study showed that neighbourhood barriers and personal barriers differed based on the level of urbanization in a community. The personal barriers to living a healthy in all communities that the study was conducted in, were similar in frequency. However here are some differences in how personal and neighbourhood characteristics varied in their impact on obesity across different levels of urbanization, and some explanations:
- Rural Resident: Poor health, dislike of exercise, fear of injury. Lack of sidewalks, concerns about traffic safety, absence of streetlights,reduced access to assistance in event of an injury
Possible explanation: Higher proportion of older adults live in rural areas. Some personal barriers can be explained by neighbourhood ones
- Micropolitan: No time for exercise and being self conciousPossible explanation: Higher proportion of older adults live in rural areas. Some personal barriers can be explained by neighbourhood ones
- Metropolitan: High traffic
The authors also considered macro-level impact of urbanization and how that related to personal and neighbourhood barriers on impact of risk for obesity. There was a higher community sprawl related to higher incidence of obesity, and the risk of this association increased with increased number of personal barriers. Joshu et. al attribute this to the interplay that takes place in development of personal barriers to a healthy lifestyle and the environment one lives in. Environments conducive to a healthy lifestyle (more likely to be compact and low sprawl communities) help to offset personal barriers and other risks of obesity.
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