Identifying School Neighborhoods for Childhood Obesity Research
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Xingyou, Christoffel Katherine Kaufer, Mason Maryann, Liu Lin
Primary Institution: The Robert Graham Centre for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care
Hypothesis
We sought to identify contrastive and comparable districts for childhood obesity and physical activity research studies.
Conclusion
The combination of GIS and cluster analysis makes it possible to objectively characterize urban neighborhoods and to select comparable and/or contrasting neighborhoods for community-based health studies.
Supporting Evidence
- The study successfully characterized all 412 public elementary school neighborhoods in Chicago.
- Eight school neighborhoods were identified as contrastive and comparable based on land use and safety parameters.
- GIS technology allowed for the integration of various data sources to create objective neighborhood measures.
Takeaway
This study used technology to look at different neighborhoods in Chicago to find the best places to study childhood obesity and physical activity.
Methodology
GIS technology was used to integrate multiple data sources and hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to categorize school district groups according to their neighborhood characteristics.
Limitations
The study faced challenges in selecting representative neighborhoods due to the complexity of neighborhood variables related to child physical activity and obesity.
Participant Demographics
The study included public elementary school neighborhoods in Chicago, with a focus on racial and ethnic compositions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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