Spatial and Census Data to Evaluate Obese Persons and their Environment (SCOPE)

To evaluate the built environment and its relationship to BMI for individuals in eastern Idaho.

Geospatial analyses were coupled to demographic data of adult individuals. ArcGIS Community Analyst was used to compare demographics relative to median BMI.

For every kilometer increase in distance to prepared food sites, BMI went down by 1.3% and every kilometer increase in distance to green space, BMI went down by 0.8% (p < .001). For every kilometer increase in distance to trails, BMI went up by 1.5%. No other built environment variables had a statistically significant association with BMI.

The distance to prepared foods and trails was associated with expected changes in BMI. Conversely, increased distance to green space was associated with a lower BMI.