Gentrification and childhood obesity: Evidence from New York City public school students in public housing
Authors' conclusion
With strong internal validity, this study shows that neighborhood gentrification differentially influenced children's health through obesity, based on borough of residence. Such findings could inform policies or interventions focused on subpopulations and geographies.
Study context
- Population
- New York City public school students living in public housing, followed 2009–201742,182 student-year observations
- Participants
- 19,022 students
- Exposure
- Public housing in gentrified neighborhoods vs consistently low-SES neighborhoods
- Outcome
- Weight outcomes: BMI z scores, obesity, overweight
Methodological detailsquasi-random assignment within borough
- Quasi-random assignment within borough
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Weight outcomes:
- BMI z scores
- Obesity
- Overweight
Effect on BMI z scores
0.037
95% CI −0.012 to 0.086
Gentrification
Effect on obesity
0.6 pp
95% CI −0.9 to 2.1
Gentrification
Effect on overweight
1.3 pp
95% CI −0.7 to 3.2
Gentrification
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Increase in BMI z scores (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight outcomes in Manhattan (borough subgroup)Gentrificationvs Consistently low-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods | 0.19 (0.09–0.29) | |
| −0.200.20.4Difference (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight outcomes in Manhattan (borough subgroup)Gentrificationvs Consistently low-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods | increase in obesity 3.4 pp (95% CI 0.03–6.5) | |
| Weight outcomes in Manhattan (borough subgroup)Gentrificationvs Consistently low-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods | increase in overweight 9.2 pp (95% CI 6.3–12.1) | |
| −5051015Difference, pp (linear scale) |
Weight outcomes in Manhattan (borough subgroup)
- Heterogeneous effects by borough
Heterogeneity by race and ethnicity, gender or age
- No heterogeneity by race and ethnicity, gender, or age
Original publication
Gentrification and childhood obesity: Evidence from New York City public school students in public housing. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 20 November 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →