Gerson Ferrari, Claudia Alberico, Adilson Marques, Irina Kovalskys, Georgina Gómez, Attilio Rigotti, Lilia Yadira Cortés, Martha Yépez García, Rossina G. Pareja, Marianella Herrera‑Cuenca, Clemens Drenowatz, Ana Carolina B. Leme, Carlos Cristi‑Montero, Roberto Fernandes da Costa, Claudio Farías‑Valenzuela & Mauro Fisberg.
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.
