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Obesogenic influences in public housing: a mixed-method analysis.
Gail Regan1, Rebecca E Lee, Katie Booth
1Department of Psychology, Castleton State College, Castleton, Vermont, USA.
American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP
|March 25, 2006
Summary
Residents of public housing developments (HDs) face limited access to healthy food and physical activity resources in their neighborhoods. Urban planning and public health initiatives must address these environmental barriers to combat obesity.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning
- Public health
- Environmental health
Background:
- Obesity prevalence is disproportionately high in impoverished urban environments.
- Public housing developments (HDs) are often situated in areas with limited resources.
- Understanding neighborhood-level obesogenic factors is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify environmental factors contributing to obesity in urban neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments.
- To assess the availability and accessibility of physical activity resources and food sources.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional quantitative survey and qualitative interviews were conducted in 14 public housing developments and their surrounding neighborhoods.
- Environmental data were collected within an 800-m radius of each development.
- Housing managers were interviewed about neighborhood factors influencing resident obesity.
Main Results:
- Public housing properties were generally well-maintained, but lacked on-site physical activity (PA) resources and food sources.
- While PA resources were often cited as available nearby, their type and accessibility varied significantly.
- Grocery stores were scarce, with fast-food restaurants being the predominant food source in most neighborhoods.
Conclusions:
- Despite improvements in housing safety and comfort, significant disparities in access to healthy food and PA resources persist in public housing neighborhoods.
- Future interventions and policies should prioritize improving access to nutritious food options and opportunities for physical activity.