Examining the association of neighborhood aesthetics with neighborhood-based physical activity, chronic stress, and body mass index in school children

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to evaluate a structural equation model to explore statistical relationships between the onset of obesity, the neuroendocrine response to neighborhood aesthetics, and physical activity among elementary school children residing in a Mexican community. 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 neuroendocrine response to chronic stress was assessed by hair cortisol concentration (HCC) over 3 months. Ratings of the parental perception of neighborhood aesthetics, child’s physical activity at home and neighborhood, HCC, and Body Mass Index percentile (BMI) were evaluated. The model shows that neighborhood aesthetics negatively impacts 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 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. These findings document the relevance of a psycho-environmental approach toward a better understanding of the synergistic effects of a positive environment, and behavior transactions related to weight gain and obesity