The impact of the environment on levels of childhood obesity: when the territory emerges as a differentiating and risk factor

Abstract

This study investigates the links between parents’ perceptions of social and built local environment and child sex-specific levels of excess weigh/obesity. Further, we analyse if the availability of child sports is a potential contribute to the observed patterns of excess weight/obesity. In a first step, we observed 1885 school children (aged 3-10 yrs) living in Coimbra district. In this sample, results have shown a significant association between parental perceptions of built and social local environment and obesity in girls. In a second step, we found that the availability of sports in Coimbra city is unbalanced, heavily restricting the opportunities of sports practice to girls. From the 67 sports opportunities observed in Coimbra, 32 were directed to both sexes, 23 were directed towards boys and 12 to girls. We’ve concluded that girls experience processes of environmental discrimination, which may have a harmful health impact. In this context, we argue the need for environmental interventions, not only as a means of promoting health, but also gender equity.