Neighborhood design and body mass: Does weight status differ between a new urbanist and conventional suburban neighborhoods?
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is a public health concern in the United States. There is a small but growing body of literature examining the relationship between neighborhood level characteristics, physical activity and weight status. However, to date, none of theses studies have examined the association between new urbanist communities and weight status. Objective: To examine the prevalence of overweight, obesity and body mass index of household heads in a new urbanist neighborhood relative to household heads of comparable conventional suburban neighborhoods. Method: Using a quasi-experimental design, a new urbanist neighborhood and five conventional suburban neighborhoods in central North Carolina were matched on age of development, assessed property values and regional accessibility. Self-reported height, weight, physical activity and travel behaviors were derived through a questionnaire and travel diary mailed to the heads of household in each neighborhood type between March and May 2003. Results: No significant difference was detected in BMI, overweight and obese prevalence, or moderate and vigorous physical activity levels between household heads in the new urbanist neighborhood and the conventional suburban neighborhoods after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. However, the study found that new urbanist heads of household made more in-neighborhood utilitarian trips by walking or bicycling than their conventional suburban counterparts and these physical activity trips were related to lower BMI. Conclusion: By offering an environment supportive of non- motorized travel and mixed land uses, household heads of the new urbanist neighborhood integrated walking and biking into their utilitarian trip making. The utilitarian physical activity trips were associated with a lower BMI, however, yet residing in the new urbanist neighborhood was not related to lowering BMI or decreased likelihood of being overweight and obese.
DOI: 10.17615/j15k-cy18
Author: Brown, Austin
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2957083863