All projects

Neighborhood Research

Overview

The Neighborhood Research initiative, guided by Principal Investigator Penny Gordon-Larsen, has embarked on two pivotal NIH-funded projects aimed at untangling the intricate web connecting social, economic, and environmental factors to diet, physical activity, obesity, and cardiometabolic risk.

Key Research Projects

  • Environmental Changes and Health Outcomes in Four US Cities (R01-HL114091): Spanning from 2011 to 2015, this project sought to chronicle and analyze environmental transformations in Birmingham, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland. Through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, we created dynamic variables reflecting changes in food resources, recreational facilities, and transportation infrastructure over 25 years, merging this data with the CARDIA study findings.
  • Obesity and Metabolic Risk Disparities: Underlying Food Environment Factors (1R01-HL104580): Conducted concurrently with the first project, this research delved into economic disparities affecting diet and associated diseases. Focusing on the health disparities between white and black adults in the US, the goal was to pinpoint modifiable environmental aspects to bolster health equity.

Research Objectives and Approaches

Both projects utilized the rich data from the CARDIA study, which tracks young adults over a 25-year trajectory. Our team's innovative use of GIS allowed us to measure the neighborhood environment's influence on lifestyle and health outcomes. The Obesity and Metabolic Risk Disparities project honed in on economic disparities influencing diet and health, aiming to identify environmental levers to promote health and reduce disparities. The Four Cities project, meanwhile, used unique methodologies to generate retrospective data, assessing the impact of community resources on health and wellness.

Collaborative Team and Expertise

A seasoned team of researchers from various domains has been pivotal to our research journey over the past 15 years. Experts like Dr. Barry Popkin and Dr. David Guilkey, alongside Professors Daniel Rodriguez and Yan Song from the Department of City and Regional Planning, have been instrumental in advancing our research. Collaborations with CARDIA researchers, including Drs. David R. Jacobs, Steve Sidney, Kiang Liu, Cora E. Lewis, Catarina Kiefe, and Ana Diez-Roux, have enriched our study, offering diverse perspectives and expertise.

Study Impact and Further Information

Our research contributes significant insights into how neighborhood dynamics over the last 25 years have influenced health outcomes. By employing sophisticated statistical models, we accounted for the demand-driven placement of food and activity facilities and the selective migration patterns of populations seeking these resources. To explore more about the CARDIA study and our research, visit CARDIA website.

Conclusion

The Neighborhood Research initiative represents a comprehensive effort to understand and document the multifaceted environmental factors that shape health trajectories over an extensive period. Our findings underscore the critical role of neighborhood characteristics in influencing lifestyle choices and health outcomes, providing a roadmap for future public health interventions and policy development.