Sridhar GR, Gumpeny L. Built environment and childhood obesity. World J Clin Pediatr 2024; 13(3): 93729 [PMID: 39350902 DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i3.93729]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Gumpeny R Sridhar, FRCP, Adjunct Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Endocrine and Diabetes Centre, 15-12-15 Krishnanagar, Visakhapatnam 530002, Andhra Pradesh, India. sridharvizag@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Pediatrics
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Pediatr. Sep 9, 2024; 13(3): 93729 Published online Sep 9, 2024. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i3.93729
Built environment and childhood obesity
Gumpeny R Sridhar, Lakshmi Gumpeny
Gumpeny R Sridhar, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Endocrine and Diabetes Centre, Visakhapatnam 530002, Andhra Pradesh, India
Lakshmi Gumpeny, Department of Internal Medicine, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute of Healthcare and Medical Technology, Visakhapatnam 530048, Andhra Pradesh, India
Author contributions: Sridhar GR designed the concept and outline; Gumpeny L contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript; Both authors contributed to this manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Gumpeny R Sridhar, FRCP, Adjunct Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Endocrine and Diabetes Centre, 15-12-15 Krishnanagar, Visakhapatnam 530002, Andhra Pradesh, India. sridharvizag@gmail.com
Received: March 5, 2024 Revised: June 7, 2024 Accepted: July 10, 2024 Published online: September 9, 2024 Processing time: 177 Days and 16.1 Hours
Abstract
Childhood obesity, an escalating global health challenge, is intricately linked to the built environment in which children live, learn, and play. This review and perspective examined the multifaceted relationship between the built environment and childhood obesity, offering insights into potential interventions for prevention. Factors such as urbanization, access to unhealthy food options, sedentary behaviors, and socioeconomic disparities are critical contributors to this complex epidemic. Built environment encompasses the human-modified spaces such as homes, schools, workplaces, and urban areas. These settings can influence children’s physical activity levels, dietary habits, and overall health. The built environment can be modified to prevent childhood obesity by enhancing active transportation through the development of safe walking and cycling routes, creating accessible and inviting green spaces and play areas, and promoting healthy food environments by regulating fast-food outlet density. School design is another area for intervention, with a focus on integrating outdoor spaces and facilities that promote physical activity and healthy eating. Community engagement and education in reinforcing healthy behaviors is necessary, alongside the potential of technology and innovation in encouraging physical activity among children. Policy and legislative support are crucial for sustaining these efforts. In conclusion, addressing the built environment in the fight against childhood obesity requires the need for a comprehensive, multipronged approach that leverages the built environment as a tool for promoting healthier lifestyles among children, ultimately paving the way for a healthier, more active future generation.
Core Tip: Prevention of obesity must begin in childhood. Healthy habits and physical activity form the cornerstone. Built environment, the environment in which children grow, play, and eat, must encourage a healthy lifestyle. Studies show critical aspects of the built environment are important for improving children’s health and for preventing metabolic diseases.
