Characteristics of the obesogenic environment around schools are associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children.

Abstract

To assess the association of obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children. Cross-sectional study. Body adiposity was assessed using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and chemerin were measured. Predominantly ultra-processed food (UPF) stores, public physical activity (PA) facilities, green spaces, walkability, traffic accidents, and crime were evaluated. The neighborhood unit was the 400 m (0.25 miles) road network buffer around schools. The association of environmental characteristics with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations was assessed by linear regression models using Generalize Estimating Equations (GEE). Urban schools (n=24), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Children aged 8 and 9 years (n=378). A higher density of predominantly UPF stores and a lower percentage of green space were associated with higher total (β: 0.12; 95%CI: 0.06, 0.18; and β: -0.10; 95%CI: -0.16, -0.04, respectively) and android body fat (β: 0.28; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.43 and β: -0.18; 95%CI: -0.32, -0.04, respectively). In addition, the densities of PA facilities and crime were inversely associated with leptin concentrations. Traffic accidents density and percentage of green spaces around schools had, respectively, a positive and an inverse association with concentrations of adiponectin and RBP4. Obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools were associated with total and android body fat, as well as with pro-inflammatory adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children from a medium-sized city.