UC Davis

Background

Within the context of high childhood obesity prevalence, there is a concern that community efforts intended to reduce childhood obesity may lead to unintended adverse outcomes.

Objective

This analysis examined relationships between community programs, policies, and environmental changes (CPPs) for obesity prevention with unhealthy dieting behaviours and body weight satisfaction in children.

Methods

Using the Healthy Communities Study 2013 to 2015 survey sample of 5138 US children aged 4 to 15 years old, multilevel models examined associations between standardized CPP intensity scores and child dieting behaviours and weight satisfaction, adjusting for community and child-level covariates and clustered study design.

Results

In fully adjusted models, higher total, physical activity, and nutrition CPP intensity scores were associated with lower odds of dissatisfaction with weight (1 year total CPP odds ratio [OR]: 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.73; 6 year total CPP OR: 0.48, 0.29-0.80). Higher physical activity CPP intensity over the past year was associated with greater odds of weight satisfaction (OR: 1.77, 95% CI, 1.10-2.84). No associations were observed with dieting behaviours.

Conclusions

Results suggest that community efforts focusing on nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity may be associated with weight satisfaction and not with unhealthy dieting behaviours.