Citation

Brown BB, Werner CM, Smith KR, Tribby CP, Miller HJ. Prev. Med. 2014; 66: 140-144.

Affiliation

Department of Geography; University of Utah. Present address 1036 Derby Hall, 154 N. Oval Mall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Family & Consumer Studies, 225S 1400 E RM 228, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.06.021

PMID

24963894

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:. The current cross-sectional study tests whether low perceived crime safety is associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk and whether less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) accounts for part of this relationship.

METHOD:. Adults (n=864) from a relatively low-income and ethnically mixed neighborhood in Salt Lake City UT (2012) were assessed for perceived crime safety, objective physical activity, and BMI measures.

RESULTS:. This neighborhood had lower perceived safety than for other published studies utilizing this safety measure. In a mediation test, lower perceived crime safety was significantly associated with higher BMI and greater risk of obesity, net of control variables. Residents with lower perceived safety had less MVPA. Lower MVPA partially explained the relationship between less safety and both elevated BMI and higher obesity risk, suggesting that perceiving less crime safety limits MVPA which, in turn, increases weight.

CONCLUSION:. In this neighborhood, with relatively low perceived safety from crime, residents' low perceived safety related to more obesity and higher BMI; lower MVPA among residents explained part of this relationship. If residents are to become more active in their neighborhood it may be important to address perceived crime safety as part of broader efforts to enhance active living.

Language: en