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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Neighbourhood built environment associations with body size in adults: mediating effects of activity and sedentariness in a cross-sectional study of New Zealand adults

Authors: Melody Oliver, Karen Witten, Tony Blakely, Karl Parker, Hannah Badland, Grant Schofield, Vivienne Ivory, Jamie Pearce, Suzanne Mavoa, Erica Hinckson, Paul Sweetsur, Robin Kearns

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between body size and built environment walkability variables, as well as the mediating role of physical activity and sedentary behaviours with body size.

Methods

Objective environment, body size (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)), and sedentary time and physical activity data were collected from a random selection of 2033 adults aged 20–65 years living in 48 neighbourhoods across four New Zealand cities. Multilevel regression models were calculated for each comparison between body size outcome and built environment exposure.

Results and Discussion

Street connectivity and neighborhood destination accessibility were significant predictors of body size (1 SDchange predicted a 1.27 to 1.41 % reduction in BMI and a 1.76 to 2.29 % reduction in WC). Significantrelationships were also observed for streetscape (1 SD change predicted a 1.33 % reduction in BMI) anddwelling density (1 SD change predicted a 1.97 % reduction in BMI). Mediation analyses revealed asignificant mediating effect of physical activity on the relationships between body size and street connectivity and neighbourhood destination accessibility (explaining between 10.4 and 14.6 % of the total effect). No significant mediating effect of sedentary behaviour was found. Findings from this cross-sectional study of a random selection of New Zealand adults are consistent with international research. Findings are limited to individual environment features only; conclusions cannot be drawn about the cumulative and combined effect of individual features on outcomes.

Conclusions

Built environment features were associated with body size in the expected directions. Objectively-assessed physical activity mediated observed built environment-body size relationships.

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Title: Neighbourhood built environment associations with body size in adults: mediating effects of activity and sedentariness in a cross-sectional study of New Zealand adults
Authors: Melody Oliver
Karen Witten
Tony Blakely
Karl Parker
Hannah Badland
Grant Schofield
Vivienne Ivory
Jamie Pearce
Suzanne Mavoa
Erica Hinckson
Paul Sweetsur
Robin Kearns
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2292-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

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Neighbourhood built environment associations with body size in adults: mediating effects of activity and sedentariness in a cross-sectional study of New Zealand adults

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

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