Exploring urban parks and their peripheral food environments using a case study approach: Young people and obesogenic environments

Childhood overweight and obesity and physical inactivity are a major public health concern globally. This observational area-level case study examined and evaluated the attributes of two urban parks and 400 m peripheries influencing eating and activity behaviours in young people (aged 11-20 years). No single park variable principally or consistently attracted young people to parks or facilitated activity. Socio-economic advantage, however, was observed with higher park usership, food outlet provision (P=0.002) and food environment healthfulness (P=0.001) in more affluent areas. Inequities in obesogenic determinants are consistent with the concept of deprivation amplification. This issue needs to be more fully understood by urban designers and those involved in the planning, design and maintenance of urban parks and their peripheral environments. Furthermore, interdisciplinary cooperation and intervention between health and built environment professionals is needed to ensure that greater health equity is achieved for young people.