242898 Child Health, Obesity, and Environment in East Harlem, NY

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Michelle Ramos, MPH , Union Settlement Association, New York, NY
Maida Galvez, MD, MPH , Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Nita Vangeepuram, MD, MPH , Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Thalia MacMillan, PhD, MSW , Lighthouse International, New York, NY
Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH , Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Lawrence Kleinman, MD, MPH , Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
We combined multiple assessments of the health and environment of children as part of a community-partnered project to reduce diabetes-related disparities in the Sector of Excellence for the Elimination of Disparities SEED, a 2 census tract area of East Harlem, NY. We administered surveys at community sites to 117 adults regarding their children. We performed a block by block assessment of the neighborhood environment. Most respondents (83%) were mothers. The average child was 7 years (range 3-15). 36% of parents reported the health of their children as only good, fair or poor. 55% of children were overweight or obese by BMI. Overweight or obese was related to worse health status: 69% of children in the poor to good health category were measured as overweight or obese, compared to 57% with very good and 38% with excellent health, p=.04.Among overweight or obese children in very good or excellent health, daily physical activity time was 44 minutes longer in those felt to be of normal weight than those viewed as overweight or obese (N=36, p=.17). There was an average of 1 park or playground every 7 blocks: parks were used more frequently than playgrounds.A typical child had 1 fast food meal and one food purchase from a bodega per week. A minority of food stores surveyed carried healthy foods- 43% had apples, 38% tomatoes, and 19% fat-free milk. Of 21 restaurants surveyed, 52% were either national fast food chains, pizza, or Chinese take out. Most (67%) of restaurants had at least one healthy item (usually salad). Sidewalks were not always easily walkable, with 51% in disrepair and 21% obstructed. Children's health status is concerning, as are rates of obesity. Multiple aspects of the food, built, and behavioral environments may combine to produce high rates of local childhood obesity.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe multiple assessments of the health and environment of children as part of a community-partnered project to reduce diabetes-related disparities in the Sector of Excellence for the Elimination of Disparities (SEED), a 2 census tract area of East Harlem, NY (EH)

Keywords: Obesity, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Community Project Manager for Communities IMPACT Diabetes Center, A REACH U.S. Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Disparities
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.