Neighborhoods, Obesity, and Diabetes — A Randomized Social Experiment

In this study, women with children were enabled to move from poor neighborhoods to neighborhoods with lower poverty rates. The moves were associated with modest but potentially important reductions in the prevalence of extreme obesity and diabetes. Many observational studies have shown that neighborhood attributes such as poverty and racial segregation are associated with increased risks of obesity and diabetes, even after adjustment for observed individual and family-related factors. 1 – 4 In response, the U.S. surgeon general has called for efforts to “create neighborhood communities that are focused on healthy nutrition and regular physical activity, where the healthiest choices are accessible for all citizens.” 5 Previous studies have suggested several pathways through which neighborhoods might influence health. Changes in the built environment (e.g., the addition of grocery stores or spaces where residents can exercise) might affect health-related behaviors and . . .