Childhood Obesity Linked to the Neighborhood
Childhood obesity risk raised or lowered by the neighborhood.
Does obesity relate to where you live in the U.S.? Certainly what part of the country one lives relates to obesity because of the the weather. But what about neighborhoods within the same city or region?
This is a critical point because obesity is responsible for many health conditions. And more and more Americans are becoming obese. Currently about a third of American adults are obese and two-thirds are overweight. A new report announced at the second annual Weight of the Nation conference estimates that by 2030, 42 percent of U.S. adults will be obese. Obesity is linked to numerous disorders along with early mortality.
As far as children, according to the American Heart Association, about a third of all children are either obese or overweight in the U.S. Along with this early obesity comes a greater risk of heart disease and various inflammatory disorders. For this reason we find an increasing amount of children have metabolic disease. This means an increased risk of diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in the kids or when they become young adults.
Childhood obesity by the neighborhood
Researchers from Florida State University have determined that the neighborhood a child grows up in is a significantly strong factor in determining whether the child will become obese as an adolescent and adult.
The research analyzed and tracked 9,115 adolescents during three periods – 1996, 2001 and 2008 – as part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
The data found that overweight adolescents were more likely to live in disadvantaged (socioeconomically poor) neighborhoods, and their rate of weight gain is significantly higher over time than children from non-disadvantaged neighborhoods. Children from disadvantaged neighborhoods also had a higher likelihood of being obese during adulthood. Weight determination was gauged by measuring body mass index (BMI).
The research also found that children from Black and Hispanic neighborhoods were more likely to be obese and had a higher rate of weight gain.
The researchers concluded that “the neighborhood environment during the critical period of adolescence appears to have a long-term effect on BMI in adulthood. Policy interventions focusing on the neighborhood environment may have far-reaching effects on adult health.”
This finding correlates with another study we reported. This study found that fast food corporations place a disproportionately higher number of fast food restaurants in disadvantaged neighborhoods. This strategic decision by these corporations was found to contribute directly to higher rates of obesity among these neighborhoods by the researchers.
French fries for breakfast anyone? Or, a better choice would be whole foods with more fiber. Other research has found that eating more fiber can help us lose weight.
Certainly more activity will help kids keep the weight down. Other research has found that playing outside also helps reduce ADHD risk in children.
REFERENCE:
Burdette AM, Needham BL. Neighborhood environment and body mass index trajectories from adolescence to adulthood. J Adolesc Health. 2012 Jan;50(1):30-7.
