To evaluate the direct and indirect associations of obesogenic and leptogenic neighborhood environments with body fat, and pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines in Brazilian children.

Cross-sectional study. The body fat distribution was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were measured. Four hundred meters (0·25 miles) road network buffer was the neighborhood unit used to assess the environmental characteristics around households. Obesogenic and leptogenic environments were the latent variables obtained from the observed characteristics. The mother’s BMI, ultra-processed food consumption, and physical activity before and after school, were tested as mediating variables. A hybrid model of structural equations was used to test the direct and indirect associations of obesogenic and leptogenic environments with body fat, leptin and adiponectin concentrations.

Urban area of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Children aged 8- and 9-years (n 367).

Obesogenic environment was directly associated with the mother’s BMI (β: 0·24, P = 0·02) and the child’s body fat (β: 0·19, P = 0·02). The mother’s BMI and body fat mediated the association of the obesogenic environment with leptin concentrations (β: 0·05, P = 0·02).

Obesogenic neighborhood environment was directly associated with body fat and mother's BMI, and indirectly associated with leptin concentrations in Brazilian children, mediated by the mother’s BMI and body fat.

To assess the association of obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children.

Cross-sectional study. Body adiposity was assessed using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and chemerin were measured. Predominantly ultra-processed food (UPF) stores, public physical activity (PA) facilities, green spaces, walkability, traffic accidents and crime were evaluated. The neighbourhood unit was the 400 m (0·25 miles) road network buffer around schools. The association of environmental characteristics with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations was assessed by linear regression models using generalised estimating equations.

Urban schools (n 24), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Children aged 8 and 9 years (n 378).

A higher density of predominantly UPF stores and a lower percentage of green space were associated with higher total (β: 0·12; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·18 and β: –0·10; 95 % CI –0·16, –0·04, respectively) and android body fat (β: 0·28; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·43 and β: –0·18; 95 % CI –0·32, –0·04, respectively). In addition, the densities of PA facilities and crime were inversely associated with leptin concentrations. Traffic accidents density and percentage of green spaces around schools had, respectively, a positive and an inverse association with concentrations of adiponectin and RBP4.

Obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools were associated with total and android body fat, as well as with pro-inflammatory adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children from a medium-sized city.

Higher neighbourhood walkability would be expected to contribute to better health, but the relevant evidence is inconsistent. This may be because residents’ dietary attributes, which vary with socio-economic status (SES) and influence their health, can be related to walkability. We examined associations of walkability with dietary attributes and potential effect modification by area-level SES.

The exposure variable of this cross-sectional study was neighbourhood walkability, calculated using residential density, intersection density and destination density within 1-km street-network buffer around each participant’s residence. The outcome variables were dietary patterns (Western, prudent and mixed) and total dietary energy intake, derived from a FFQ. Main and interaction effects with area-level SES were estimated using two-level linear regression models.

Participants were from all states and territories in Australia.

The analytical sample included 3590 participants (54 % women, age range 34 to 86).

Walkability was not associated with dietary attributes in the whole sample. However, we found interaction effects of walkability and area-level SES on Western diet scores (P < 0·001) and total energy intake (P = 0·012). In low SES areas, higher walkability was associated with higher Western dietary patterns (P = 0·062) and higher total energy intake (P = 0·066). In high SES areas, higher walkability was associated with lower Western diet scores (P = 0·021) and lower total energy intake (P = 0·058).

Higher walkability may not be necessarily conducive to better health in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Public health initiatives to enhance neighbourhood walkability need to consider food environments and socio-economic contexts.

Understand how the built environment can affect safety and efficiency outcomes during doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient care.

We conducted (1) field observations and surveys administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) performing PPE doffing, (2) focus groups with HCWs and infection prevention experts, and (3) a with healthcare design experts.

This study was conducted in 4 inpatient units treating patients with COVID-19, in 3 hospitals of a single healthcare system.

The study included 24 nurses, 2 physicians, 1 respiratory therapist, and 2 infection preventionists.

The doffing task sequence and the layout of doffing spaces varied considerably across sites, with field observations showing most doffing tasks occurring around the patient room door and PPE support stations. Behaviors perceived as most risky included touching contaminated items and inadequate hand hygiene. Doffing space layout and types of PPE storage and work surfaces were often associated with inadequate cleaning and improper storage of PPE. Focus groups and the design charrette provided insights on how design affording standardization, accessibility, and flexibility can support PPE doffing safety and efficiency in this context.

There is a need to define, organize and standardize PPE doffing spaces in healthcare settings and to understand the environmental implications of COVID-19–specific issues related to supply shortage and staff workload. Low-effort and low-cost design adaptations of the layout and design of PPE doffing spaces may improve HCW safety and efficiency in existing healthcare facilities.

To assess the association of sociodemographic and environmental factors with the obesity occurrence in Argentina from a sex- and age-comparative perspective and a multilevel approach.

Cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the National Survey of Chronic Diseases Risk Factors (CDRF) 2018, Argentina. Two-level logistic regression models stratified by sex and age were used.

The nationwide probabilistic sample of the CDRF survey and twenty-four geographical units.

16 410 adult people, living in Argentine towns of at least 5000 people, nested into 24 geographical units. Sex and age groups were defined as young (aged 18–44 years), middle-aged (45–64 years) and older (65 years and older) men and women.

Single men (all age groups) and divorced/widowed men (aged 45 years or older) had a lower obesity risk compared to married ones. In the middle-aged group, men with higher education showed a lower risk than men with incomplete primary education. In young women, a marked social gradient by educational level was observed. A low-income level coupled with highly urbanised contexts represents an unfavourable scenario for young and middle-aged women. Having a multi-person household was a risk factor for obesity (OR = 1·26, P = 0·038) in middle-aged women. Contextual factors linked to the availability of socially constructed recreational resources and green spaces were associated with obesity among young adults.

Socio-environmental determinants of obesity seem to operate differently according to sex and age in Argentina. This entails the need to address the obesity epidemic considering gender inequalities and the socio-environmental context at each stage of life.