What’s this about?
The Built Environment & Health (BEH) project is an interdisciplinary program of research at Columbia University. Led by epidemiologist Andrew Rundle, BEH uses spatial data to examine the implications of the built environment, including land use, public transit, and housing, for physical activity, diet, obesity, and other aspects of health. With a focus on New York City, BEH research will inform public policy to promote health in the city and metropolitan area. BEH is affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program at Columbia.
BEH Publications, 2008
BEH studies published or accepted for publication this year include:
Park, Yoosun, Kathryn M. Neckerman, James Quinn, Christopher Weiss, and Andrew Rundle. “Immigration, acculturation and body mass index in New York City: The roles of personal and neighborhood characteristics.” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2008, 5:19.
Using a sample of more than 13,000 New York City residents, this study found that BMI was higher among native- than foreign-born adults. Among foreign-born adults, duration of residence in the U.S. was also associated with higher BMI. Hispanics living in more linguistically isolated neighborhoods had a lower BMI than those living elsewhere in the city. These results suggest that acculturation is associated with larger body size.
Lovasi, Gina S., James Quinn, Kathryn M. Neckerman, Matthew Perzanowski, and Andrew Rundle. “Children living in areas with more street trees have lower asthma prevalence.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2008;62:647-649.
This ecological study examined associations between street tree density and childhood asthma rates in New York City. After control for population density, neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics, and proximity to pollution sources, the authors found, asthma rates among 4-5 year old children were lower in neighborhoods with a higher density of street trees. BEH researchers hope to follow up with research that uses individual-level data on child health.
Lovasi, Gina S., Kathryn M. Neckerman, James Quinn, Christopher Weiss, and Andrew Rundle. “Individual or neighborhood disadvantage modifies the association between neighborhood walkability and body mass index.” American Journal of Public Health. In press.
This study examined whether walkable environments are more strongly associated with BMI among those characterized by individual- or neighborhood-level disadvantage. We found that the associations between walkability indicators (population density, land use mix, and transit access) and BMI were strongest and most consistent for relatively advantaged individuals or areas. In fact, there was little evidence that these walkability-related characteristics were associated with BMI for disadvantaged populations or areas.
