Grant: Operating Grant

Two important aspects of physical health in children are obesity and injury. We will explore whether features of the built environment contribute to obesity and injuries in Canadian children. As part of an organized effort to collect health data on children in 45 countries, we conduct a survey every 4 years in grade 6-10 Canadian youth. In 2004, CIHR funded us to perform in-depth analyses of this Canadian survey, and to develop a follow-up survey of Ontario students. This research focused on risk-taking and injury. Additional analyses allowed us to understand other aspects of child health. The focus of our renewal grant is the "built environment" and its effects on the physical health of children. The built environment refers to physical features of the environment such as the presence and condition of parks, walking paths, school facilities, and safe homes. We contend that, if we make changes to the built environment, we can reduce injuries and obesity in young Canadians. In 2009-10, we will survey 90,000 Canadian children. It is possible to link these survey data with public information describing school, neighbourhood and home environments. Using these sources, we will study the effects of the built environment on obesity and injury. We will also study whether social, behavioural and geographic factors influence the ability of the built environment to impact obesity and injury. Social factors will include wealth, behavioural norms, and cohesion within schools and neighbourhoods. Behavioural factors will include diet, physical inactivity, and risk-taking. Geographic factors will include the province, community size, and climate of the communities in which youth live. Our long-term goal is to inform health policies and prevention strategies for obesity and injury. CIHR suggests that both are leading research priorities, as are studies of the built environment. Study of these relationships will lead to novel research for Canadian youth.