Associations of multidimensional socioeconomic and built environment factors with body mass index trajectories among youth in geographically heterogeneous communities

AbstractUnderstanding contextual influences on obesity requires comparison of heterogeneous communities and concurrent assessment of multiple contextual domains. We used a theoretically-based measurement model to assess multidimensional socioeconomic and built environment factors theorized to influence childhood obesity across a diverse geography ranging from rural to urban. Confirmatory factor analysis specified four factors—community socioeconomic deprivation (CSED), food outlet abundance (FOOD), fitness and recreational assets (FIT), and utilitarian physical activity favorability (UTIL)—which were assigned to communities (townships, boroughs, city census tracts) in 37 Pennsylvania counties. Using electronic health records from 2001 to 2012 from 163,820 youth aged 3–18 years from 1288 communities, we conducted multilevel linear regression analyses with factor quartiles and their cross products with age, age 2, and age 3 to test whether community factors impacted body mass index (BMI) growth trajectories. Models controlled for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and Medical Assistance. Factor scores were lowest in townships, indicating less deprivation, fewer food and physical activity outlets, and lower utilitarian physical activity favorability. BMI at average age was lower in townships versus boroughs (beta [SE]) (0.217 [0.027], P