Does Neighborhood Redevelopment Reduce Obesity? Evidence From Jordan Downs in Watts, Los Angeles

This study aimed to evaluate the early effects of a comprehensive redevelopment of a low-income, minority community on adult obesity.

We analyzed longitudinal data on a cohort of public housing residents from Jordan Downs (JD), the community undergoing redevelopment, and a comparison group in Watts, Los Angeles, California. Difference-in-difference models with individual fixed effects were estimated on a sample of 421 adults comparing changes in BMI and waist circumference for JD versus comparison group residents between baseline (2018-2019) and follow-up (2021-2022). Quasi-experimental variation in redevelopment exposure was used to assess dose-response relationships. Secondary outcomes included diet and physical activity barriers and behaviors.

There were no significant differences in BMI or waist circumference changes between JD residents (n = 279) and the comparison group (n = 149) overall. Within JD, those who moved to redeveloped areas (n = 75) experienced a 2.2% larger reduction in waist circumference (95% CI: -0.05 to -0.003) and a 10.6 percentage point (95% CI: -0.20 to -0.02) greater decline in abdominal obesity, relative to the comparison group. They reported greater declines in barriers to healthy eating and exercise, along with reduced added sugar intake, but no differential changes in BMI, obesity, physical activity, or diet quality.

Redeveloping low-income communities can reduce abdominal obesity.