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

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Body adiposity was assessed using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. 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 neighbourhood 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 generalised estimating equations.

SETTING

Urban schools ( 24), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged 8 and 9 years ( 378).

RESULTS

A higher density of predominantly UPF stores and a lower percentage of green space were associated with higher total (: 0·12; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·18 and : -0·10; 95 % CI -0·16, -0·04, respectively) and android body fat (: 0·28; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·43 and : -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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.