Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether objective and perceived neighborhood characteristics are independently associated with obesity indicators among older adults and whether associations differ by gender.
METHODS: Linear regression was used to examine mutually adjusted associations of objective area-level neighborhood deprivation and perceived individual-level neighborhood disorder in 2002-2003 with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) 2 years later among 6297 community-dwelling older adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
RESULTS: Associations between neighborhood characteristics and obesity indicators were evident for women only. Being in the most deprived quintile of neighborhood deprivation was associated with a BMI that was 1.18 kilograms per meters squared higher (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54, 1.83) and a WC that was 2.42 centimeters higher (95% CI = 0.90, 3.94) at follow-up in women after adjustment for baseline health status, socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood disorder. Neighborhood disorder was not independently associated with BMI or WC.
CONCLUSIONS: Among women, greater objective neighborhood deprivation was independently associated with higher BMI and WC after 2 years. Public efforts to reduce obesity among community-dwelling older women may benefit most from addressing objective residential characteristics, over and above subjective perceptions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1279-86 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 104 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2014 |
Keywords
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Aging
- Body Mass Index
- England
- Environment
- Female
- Health Status
- Humans
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Overweight
- Residence Characteristics
- Sex Factors
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Waist Circumference