How Does the Built Environment Relate to Body Mass Index and Obesity Prevalence among Public Housing Residents?

Abstract

Average age-adjusted BMI was 31.4 (SD = 1.3), with 45% of residents obese. High negative correlations were found between BMI and street connectivity (p = .05) and between obesity prevalence and resource accessibility (p = .09), number of amenities (p = .04), and amenity quality (p = .04). Higher resource accessibility, feature quality, number of amenities, and fewer incivilities per resource accounted for 71% of obesity variance (p < .05). Male gender and higher feature quality, F(11, 407) 37.19 and 12.66, p < .001, predicted lower BMI among residents. CONDUSION: Supportive neighborhood environments were related to lower obesity prevalence and lower BMI among residents.