Relationship between urban sprawl and physical activity, obesity, and morbidity - Update and refinement

Reid Ewing; Gail Meakins; Shima Hamidi; Arthur C. Nelson

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.12.008

Relationship between urban sprawl and physical activity, obesity, and morbidity - Update and refinement

Reid Ewing, Gail Meakins, Shima Hamidi, Arthur C. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

148 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to model multiple health outcomes and behaviors in terms of the updated, refined, and validated county compactness/sprawl measures. Methods: Multiple health outcomes and behaviors are modeled using multi-level analysis. Results: After controlling for observed confounding influences, both original and new compactness measures are negatively related to BMI, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Indices are not significantly related to physical activity, perhaps because physical activity is not defined broadly to include active travel to work, shopping, and other destinations. Conclusions: Developing urban and suburban areas in a more compact manner may have some salutary effect on obesity and chronic disease trends.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	118-126
Number of pages	9
Journal	Health and Place
Volume	26
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.12.008
State	Published - Mar 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Built environment
Compactness
Obesity
Physical activity
Sprawl

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Sociology and Political Science
Life-span and Life-course Studies

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10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.12.008

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abstract = "Aims: This study aims to model multiple health outcomes and behaviors in terms of the updated, refined, and validated county compactness/sprawl measures. Methods: Multiple health outcomes and behaviors are modeled using multi-level analysis. Results: After controlling for observed confounding influences, both original and new compactness measures are negatively related to BMI, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Indices are not significantly related to physical activity, perhaps because physical activity is not defined broadly to include active travel to work, shopping, and other destinations. Conclusions: Developing urban and suburban areas in a more compact manner may have some salutary effect on obesity and chronic disease trends.",

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T1 - Relationship between urban sprawl and physical activity, obesity, and morbidity - Update and refinement

AU - Ewing, Reid

AU - Meakins, Gail

AU - Hamidi, Shima

AU - Nelson, Arthur C.

PY - 2014/3

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N2 - Aims: This study aims to model multiple health outcomes and behaviors in terms of the updated, refined, and validated county compactness/sprawl measures. Methods: Multiple health outcomes and behaviors are modeled using multi-level analysis. Results: After controlling for observed confounding influences, both original and new compactness measures are negatively related to BMI, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Indices are not significantly related to physical activity, perhaps because physical activity is not defined broadly to include active travel to work, shopping, and other destinations. Conclusions: Developing urban and suburban areas in a more compact manner may have some salutary effect on obesity and chronic disease trends.

AB - Aims: This study aims to model multiple health outcomes and behaviors in terms of the updated, refined, and validated county compactness/sprawl measures. Methods: Multiple health outcomes and behaviors are modeled using multi-level analysis. Results: After controlling for observed confounding influences, both original and new compactness measures are negatively related to BMI, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Indices are not significantly related to physical activity, perhaps because physical activity is not defined broadly to include active travel to work, shopping, and other destinations. Conclusions: Developing urban and suburban areas in a more compact manner may have some salutary effect on obesity and chronic disease trends.

KW - Built environment

KW - Compactness

KW - Obesity

KW - Physical activity

KW - Sprawl

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Relationship between urban sprawl and physical activity, obesity, and morbidity - Update and refinement

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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