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Places to play: association of park space and facilities with healthy weight status among children

J Community Health. 2008 Oct;33(5):344-50. doi: 10.1007/s10900-008-9104-x.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how healthy weight status among youth was related to (i) three proximity-based park variables: number of parks within 1 km of home, total area of parkland within 1 km, and distance to the closest park from home, and (ii) the availability of 13 specific park facilities within 1 km of the home. Data were collected from parents of children living in four neighborhoods of a medium-sized Canadian city. Logistic regression analyses revealed that none of the three proximity-based park variables was significantly associated with healthy weight status among children in the sample. However, when availability of the 13 park facilities was examined, children with a park playground within 1 km were almost five times more likely to be classified as being of a healthy weight rather then at risk or overweight compared to those children without playgrounds in nearby parks. Results suggest that availability of certain park facilities may play a more important role in promoting physical activity and healthy weight status among children than availability of park space in general. Implications for park design are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Weight*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ontario
  • Play and Playthings*
  • Public Facilities*
  • Urban Population