A Longitudinal Study of Environmental Determinants of Overweight among Children: The SHAPEs of Things to Come
Principal Investigator
John C. Spence
Co-Investigators
Normand Boulé
Geoff Ball
Paul Veugelers
Lawrence Frank
Project Overview
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Canada and the problem is growing; between 1981 and 1996, the prevalence of obesity in Canadian children aged 7-13 tripled. Currently, more than 25% of Canadian children are overweight or obese. This trend is disturbing because of the link between obesity and premature chronic disease development and increased risk of becoming obese as adults. Retrospective studies have found approximately 30% of preschoolers who are obese will be obese as adults. There is a need to thoroughly examine the extent of this public health epidemic and implement population-based intervention strategies to reduce and eventually reverse this disturbing trend.
The mission of this project is to examine the association between the built environment and physical activity, diet and the bodyweight status of young children. We know that an imbalance in the amount of calories consumed (dietary intake) in relation to the calories burned through work and play (physical activity) are the most immediate causes of overweight and obesity. However, there are a number of factors that may influence dietary intake and physical activity. For instance, the built environment (e.g., the way neighborhoods are designed; access to fast-food restaurants) has recently been associated with obesity amongst adults. But very little research has been conducted with children and even less is known about how the environment is related to changes in bodyweight over time. This last point is important because for us to claim that the built environment is a cause of obesity we need evidence from longitudinal studies (changes over time) and experimental studies; no such evidence currently exists. If associations are found between the built environment and childhood overweight and obesity, then opportunities for interventions and policy can be identified. The results should also contribute to our limited understanding of the role of the built environment (e.g., street connectivity, proximity) in promoting or facilitating physical activity, healthy diet, and obesity in the Canadian context.
Contact
Mildred T. Masimira
Project Coordinator
masimira@ualberta.ca
Time Frame
2008-2011
Funding Agencies
Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada
Links: