Design, validation, and application of assessment tools of the environmental determinants of overweight and obesity

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that a broad range of factors in the social and physical environment determine individual disease risk factors including diet and physical activity. Research to elucidate what are the most important environmental factors for obesity (termed 'the obesogenic environment') in urban areas has all been conducted in developed countries, particularly the US and Europe. There is a clear need for research in developing countries, particularly those such as Brazil undergoing rapid urbanisation and socioeconomic changes, as environmental processes that explain differences in obesity rates may be different between countries. This proposal aims to address this research gap in a formative study of environmental determinants of obesity in adults in Sao Paulo city. Objectives: This proposal has two main goals: 1) To design and assess the validity, reliability and reproducibility of assessment tools of urban-environmental determinants on obesity among adults at Sao Paulo city; 2) To identify and analyze urban-environmental determinants on obesity among adults at Sao Paulo city. Methods: For the validity and reproducibility study, 72 census tracts in order to represent the differences related to environmental and individual associations found in the city of Sao Paulo will be chosen and assessed with the assessment tools developed. They will be developed to evaluate the food and built environment determinants of obesity and will be applied by two different people in sequential days. Data will be, then, analyzed in a multilevel model. Dependent variables: prevalence rates of overweight (BMI greater or equal to 25 kg/m² ) and obesity (BMI greater or equal to 30 kg/m² ) based on the information gathered by VIGITEL survey at Sao Paulo city in 2008.; independent variables will be divided into individual and environmental variables. (AU)