Neighborhood Aesthetics, Neighborhood-based physical activity, Chronic Stress, and obesity in school Children

Abstract

Abstract Background Children who grow up in obesogenic environments are more likely to have poor mental and physical health outcomes over time. Physical activity may protect against childhood obesity and promote healthy cortisol levels in children. Recent literature suggests the role of environmental qualities in a lower prevalence of childhood obesity because of the affordability of such spaces to promote physical activity. Until now, the conjoint influence of neighborhood aesthetics and its restorative influence on children's chronic stress and physical activity is unknown. Even more, little is known about the extension of such effects on the development of obesity in healthy children. Method This research examines the predictive association between perceived neighborhood aesthetics (e.g., the attractiveness of nature views and buildings/homes) on neighborhood-home-based physical activity, chronic stress (long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal HPA axis activity), and obesity (Body Mass Index-BMI percentile) in elementary school children. A sample of 103 children (mid-childhood mean age = 9.02 years, SD = 1.05, range 7‐11 years; 51.5% boys) participated in the study. The long-term HPA axis activity was assessed by the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) over 3 months. Ratings of the neighborhood aesthetics, children's physical activity at home and neighborhood, HCC, and obesity (BMI percentile) were evaluated and modeled through a structural equation model. Results The model shows that neighborhood aesthetics negatively impact children´s BMI scores and contributes positively to the practice of children´s physical activity. Likewise, environment-based physical activity impacts positively on lower scores of BMI obesity and children´s HCC (restorative effects). The positive effects of neighborhood aesthetics on children's physical activity and children's HCC (chronic stress) were in line with the positive relationship between HCC and children's obesity, suggesting that neighborhood aesthetics positively impact health indicators, diminishing chronic stress biomarkers and obesity indicators. Conclusions The findings highlight the significant values and utility of a psycho-environmental approach toward a better understanding of the synergetic effects of the positive environment and behavior transactions related to weight gain and obesity.