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Show 109 college of social & behavioral science Research has shown that although obesity and its associated health risks are increasing across the nation, not everyone has been affected equally. For example, geographic areas that have low median household income, high minority populations, and relatively low educational attainment tend to have greater concentrations of obese and overweight persons. This project explores variations in neighbor-hood characteristics and the prevalence of obesity for several neighborhoods in the Salt Lake Valley. A specific focus is whether neighborhoods promote or inhibit physical activity, a health behavior that is directly related to obesity risk. First, I utilized data from the Utah Department of Health's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Small Area Report to compare the demographic characteristics and health indicators of differ-ent neighborhoods in the Salt Lake Valley. Analysis of these data reveals that obesity rates and other health behaviors do differ with the socio-demographic characteristics of the neighborhood. Specifi-cally, rates of obesity correlate positively with characteristics such as percent minority residents and percent unemployment. Rates of obesity correlate negatively with variables such as median house-hold income, median level of resident education, participation in physical activity, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Similarly, the percentage of adults reporting recommended levels of physical activity also varied across the socio-demographic characteristics of neighborhoods. Second, I conducted an in-depth assessment of 5 selected neighborhoods. Using maps, available data, and visual inspections of each neighborhood, I measured characteristics of the built-environ-ment that may promote or inhibit physical activity - such as the availability of green spaces, public recreation areas, health and fitness clubs, and walking and bike paths. I also attempted to measure the safety of each neighborhood, by using published crime statistics and visual inspection of envi-ronmental features that may deter physical activity such as the presence of street lighting, sidewalks, trash, and other visible signs of residential safety. Together, both aspects of this project provide an in-depth exploration of how the built-environment is associated with both the socio-demographic and health-related characteristics of its residents. The results may suggest what further research can be done to implement changes that may lessen the disparity between rates of obesity across different neighborhoods. NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS AND OBESITY: A FOCUS ON THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT Preston Boyer (Rebecca Utz) Department of Health, Society, and Policy University of Utah UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS Preston Boyer Rebecca Utz |