Built environment and childhood obesity : a systematic review of the European literature

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a major public health issue, identifying pathways to it is crucial. The term “obesogenic environment” describes neighborhood traits linked to higher obesity risk, but it’s unclear which environmental factors increase this risk and which neighborhood changes can improve outcomes. Methods: Articles published between 2000 and June 2024 from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases conducted in EuropeanUnion countries were included, focusing on children aged 0-18. Results: We found 2,531 articles initially and 1,278 in a second search, with 43 meeting all the criteria. Studies examined green space, air and noise pollution, facility richness, sports facilities, food environment, land-use mix, housing, walkability, street connectivity, and traffic. Only food environment and green space showed associations with childhood obesity, which mostly disappeared after adjusting for individual socioeconomic factors. Other environment variables showed no consistent associations. Further research is needed to understand how neighborhood properties influence childhood obesity.