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Neighbourhood walkability and body mass index in children: Evidence from the Millennium Cohort Study in Wales
Dora Pouliou 
,
Rebecca Pedrick-Case,
Rowena Bailey,
Anna Rawlings,
Amy Mizen ,
Jo Davies,
Gareth Stratton ,
Ronan Lyons ,
Ben Beck,
Hayley Christian,
Rich Fry ,
Lucy Griffiths
,
Rebecca Pedrick-Case,
Rowena Bailey,
Anna Rawlings,
Amy Mizen ,
Jo Davies,
Gareth Stratton ,
Ronan Lyons ,
Ben Beck,
Hayley Christian,
Rich Fry ,
Lucy Griffiths
Journal of Transport & Health, Volume: 38, Start page: 101855
Swansea University Authors:
Dora Pouliou , Rebecca Pedrick-Case, Rowena Bailey, Anna Rawlings, Amy Mizen , Jo Davies, Gareth Stratton , Ronan Lyons , Rich Fry , Lucy Griffiths
DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jth.2024.101855
Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity in children continues to increase. Yet, the role of active transport, namely walking, in mitigating these trends remains unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional association between walkability and children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and how this varies by soc...
| Published in: | Journal of Transport & Health |
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| ISSN: | 2214-1405 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2024
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66899 |
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| Abstract: |
Background: Overweight and obesity in children continues to increase. Yet, the role of active transport, namely walking, in mitigating these trends remains unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional association between walkability and children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and how this varies by socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics. Methods: We analysed BMI for 14-year-old children living in Wales from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Children were categorised as healthy weight, overweight or obese using the British 1990 cut-off points. Walkability was assessed using the Wales Active Living Environments (Wal-ALE) database, categorised as 1 (least walkable environments) to 5 (most walkable environments). We applied multinomial logistic regression analysis and adjusted for ethnicity, having a limiting longstanding illness, parental BMI, socio-economic circumstances, and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Children were more likely to be obese if they lived in areas classed as more walkable in unadjusted analysis [Relative Risk Ratio (RRR)=1.72 (95% CI =1.15 - 2.58)] and following adjustment for ethnicity, limiting longstanding illness and parental BMI [RRR= 1.83 (95%CI=1.12 – 3.00)].). Significant associations remained even after further adjustment for lifestyle characteristics and socio-economic circumstances [RRR=1.76 (95%CI=1.05 – 2.96)]. Further, children were more likely to be obese if their parents were overweight or obese and if they were living in poverty. Children were less likely to be obese if they spent 3 or more days per week in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and if they ate breakfast every day vs. some days or never. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that walkable environments are not associated with lower rates of obesity in children, indicating that the relationship between the built environment and child health is complex and requires further study. |
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| Keywords: |
Children; Obesity; Walkability Index; Active Living Environments; Body Mass Index; Millennium Cohort Study |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work is part of the Built Environment and Child Health in Wales and Australia (BEACHES) project which is a joint initiative between Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia and Swansea University. The BEACHES Project is funded by the UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment Prevention Research Scheme (grant number GNT1192764 and MR/T039329/1). Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales also supported this research, which forms part of the ADR UK investment that unites research expertise from Swansea University Medical School and WISERD (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data) at Cardiff University with analysts from Welsh Government. ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. Hayley Christian is supported by an Australian National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (102549) and partially supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025). Ben Beck was supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT210100183). |
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101855 |