Grant: Operating Grant: Prevention of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases

Childhood obesity is at an epidemic level in Canada. This is a problem because childhood obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke in later life. Features of the built environment around children may impact childhood obesity. The built environment refers to physical features such as the presence and condition of recreation facilities, walking paths, and food retailers. We will explore whether the built environment contributes to obesity in Canadian children. We will use data from national surveys of grade 6-10 Canadian youth that we collect every 4 years. In 2006, we collected data on 9000 children from 188 schools. In 2009-10 we will survey 90,000 additional children. It is possible to link these survey data with information that describes built environments in schools and neighbourhoods. Using these sources we will study how the built environment impacts obesity and its determinants (physical inactivity, poor diet). We will also study whether social and geographic factors influence the ability of the built environment to impact obesity. Social factors will include wealth and cohesion within schools and neighbourhoods. Geographic factors will include the population size and climate of the communities in which youth live. Our goal is to better understand how the built environment impacts obesity in youth. Our findings will help inform health policies and prevention strategies for reducing obesity in this age group.