Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Oct;44(2):248-58.
doi: 10.1007/s12160-012-9383-4.

The built environment moderates effects of family-based childhood obesity treatment over 2 years

Leonard H Epstein  1 , Samina Raja, Tinuke Oluyomi Daniel, Rocco A Paluch, Denise E Wilfley, Brian E Saelens, James N Roemmich
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The built environment moderates effects of family-based childhood obesity treatment over 2 years

Leonard H Epstein et al. Ann Behav Med. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Research suggests the neighborhood built environment is related to child physical activity and eating.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if characteristics of the neighborhood environment moderate the relationship between obesity treatment and weight loss, and if outcomes of particular treatments are moderated by built environment characteristics.

Method: The relationship between the built environment and standardized BMI (zBMI) changes for 191 8-12-year-old children who participated in one of four randomized, controlled trials of pediatric weight management was assessed using mixed models analysis of covariance.

Results: At 2-year follow-up, greater parkland, fewer convenience stores, and fewer supermarkets were associated with greater zBMI reduction across all interventions. No treatments interacted with characteristics of the built environment.

Conclusions: Activity- and eating-related built neighborhood characteristics are associated with child success in behavioral obesity treatments. Efficacy may be improved by individualizing treatments based on built environment characteristics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Flow diagram for the four studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
zBMI values (+ SEM) changes over time in relationship to parkland and block size (top graphs), and supermarkets and convenience stores (bottom graphs). The mixed model ANCOVA controlled for child age, sex, socioeconomic status, and baseline zBMI. Significant differences from baseline = * p < 0.05 ** p < 0.01
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Gordon-Larsen P, Nelson MC, Page P, Popkin BM. Inequality in the built environment underlies key health disparities in physical activity and obesity. Pediatrics. 2006;117:417–424. - PubMed
    1. Oreskovic NM, Winickoff JP, Kuhlthau KA, Romm D, Perrin JM. Obesity and the built environment among Massachusetts children. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2009;48:904–912. - PubMed
    1. Oreskovic NM, Kuhlthau KA, Romm D, Perrin JM. Built environment and weight disparities among children in high- and low-income towns. Acad Pediatr. 2009;9:315–321. - PubMed
    1. Grafova IB. Overweight children: assessing the contribution of the built environment. Prev Med. 2008;47:304–308. - PubMed
    1. Wolch J, Jerrett M, Reynolds K, et al. Childhood obesity and proximity to urban parks and recreational resources: A longitudinal cohort study. Health Place. 2011;17:207–214. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types