142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Association between home and community environment on body mass index of kindergarten age children in Clark County, NV

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Courtney Coughenour, PhD , School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Sheila Clark, MEd , School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Jennifer Lucas, MPH , School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Amanda Haboush-Deloye, PhD , Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Tara Phebus, MA , Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Background: Childhood obesity is a critical public health concern in the U.S. Recent studies have found that a substantial component of childhood obesity is already established by age 5. This study aimed to examine the role of home and community factors on BMI in children entering kindergarten.

Methods: The Kindergarten Health Survey is distributed annually to a random selection of schools in Clark County, NV. Data collected during the 2011-2013 school years were utilized. Factors included BMI and hours of screen time. Community environment factors included parks, grocery stores, and fast food outlets. Linear regression was used to develop a predictive model for BMI in Clark County, NV children entering kindergarten.

Results: 4,048 children were included in analysis; 15.8% were underweight, 54.8% were normal weight, 10.7% were overweight, and 18.7% were obese. Our predictive model was significant (p<0.001). Significant predictors included screen-hours (b=0.131, p<0.001) and number of parks (b=-0.126, p=0.016). Number of grocery stores and fast food outlets were not significant.

Conclusion: Increased screen-time was associated with increased BMI whereas number of parks was a protective factor. While the effect was small, this study was done on a novel population and found environmental influences on BMI may start at a very young age.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Environmental health sciences
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role that home and built environment has on children's weight status. Discuss implications of environmental design on child health.

Keyword(s): Built Environment, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted research on the built environment and health for five years. I created the built environment data set and was involved in data analysis
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.

Back to: 3083.0: Environmental Exposures, Sustainability and Health: Poster Session