Green Space and Child Weight Status: Does Outcome Measurement Matter? Evidence from an Australian Longitudinal Study. (2nd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sanders, Taren; Feng, Xiaoqi; Fahey, Paul P.; Lonsdale, Chris; Astell-Burt, Thomas
• Other Names: Huang Terry Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of obesity. Volume 2015(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-02
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; Obesity; Obesity; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.398
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/194838
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-0708

Abstract

Abstract : Objective . To examine whether neighbourhood green space is beneficially associated with (i) waist circumference (WC) and (ii) waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) across childhood. Methods . Gender-stratified multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between green space and objective measures of weight status in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative source of data on 4, 423 children aged 6 y to 13 y. WC and WtHR were measured objectively. Percentage green space within the local area of residence was calculated. Effect modification by age was explored, adjusting for socioeconomic confounding. Results . Compared to peers with 0–5% green space locally, boys and girls with >40% green space tended to have lower WC (β boys −1.15, 95% CI −2.44, 0.14;β girls −0.21, 95% CI −1.47, 1.05) and WtHR (β boys −0.82, 95% CI −1.65, 0.01;β girls −0.32, 95% CI −1.13, 0.49). Associations among boys were contingent upon age (p v a l u e s a g e ∗ g r e e n s p a c e < 0.001 ) and robust to adjustment for socioeconomic variables. The benefits of greener neighbourhoods appeared from age 7, with mean WC and WtHR for boys aged 13 y with >40% green space at 73.85 cm and 45.75% compared to those with 0–5% green space at 75.18 cm and 46.62%, respectively. Conclusions . Greener neighbourhoods appear beneficial to alternative child weight status measures, particularly among boys.