Abstract
Background. We examined the relationship between overweight in preschool children and three environmental factors—the proximity of
the children’s residences to playgrounds and to fast food restaurants and the safety of the children’s neighborhoods. We hypothesized that
children who lived farther from playgrounds, closer to fast food restaurants, and in unsafe neighborhoods were more likely to be overweight.
Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 7,020 low-income children, 36 through 59 months of age living in Cincinnati, OH.
Overweight was defined as a measured body mass index z95th percentile. The distance between each child’s residence and the nearest public
playground and fast food restaurant was determined with geographic information systems. Neighborhood safety was defined by the number
of police-reported crimes per 1,000 residents per year in each of 46 city neighborhoods.
Results. Overall, 9.2% of the children were overweight, 76% black, and 23% white. The mean (FSD) distances from a child’s home to the
nearest playground and fast food restaurant were 0.31 (F0.22) and 0.70 (F0.38) miles, respectively. There was no association between child
overweight and proximity to playgrounds, proximity to fast food restaurants, or level of neighborhood crime. The association between child
overweight and playground proximity did not differ by neighborhood crime level.
Conclusions. Within a population of urban low-income preschoolers, overweight was not associated with proximity to playgrounds and
fast food restaurants or with the level of neighborhood crime.
D 2003 American Health Foundation and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Environment and public health; Obesity; Physical activity; Food; Child