Less social deprivation and greater walkability and greenness were associated with higher physical activity among boys, while less material deprivation was linked to higher physical activity among girls initiating obesity management care.
Boys living in low (vs. high) social deprivation neighbourhoods were more likely to engage in high total physical activity.
Boys living in neighbourhoods with high (vs. low) walkability were more likely to engage in high organised physical activity outside of school.
Boys living in neighbourhoods with higher greenness were more likely to engage in high organised physical activity outside of school.
Girls living in neighbourhoods with very low (vs. high) material deprivation were more likely to engage in high organised physical activity outside of school.
No associations were found between any neighbourhood characteristic and screen time or sleep duration in either boys or girls.
The study sample consisted of children and adolescents initiating obesity management care across Canada, with high mean BMI z-scores.
Neighbourhood characteristics were operationalised at the level of the first three digits of residential postal codes and included walkability, greenness, and material and social deprivation.
This research suggests that the neighbourhoods where children and teenagers with obesity live are linked to how physically active they are when they first seek obesity management care. Using data from over 800 young people across Canada, researchers found that boys who lived in less socially deprived neighbourhoods, more walkable areas, and greener environments were more likely to be physically active — both in general and through organised sports or activities outside of school. Girls, on the other hand, were more likely to participate in organised physical activities when they lived in neighbourhoods with less material deprivation (i.e., better access to material resources and lower poverty). These associations differed by sex, suggesting that neighbourhood factors may influence boys and girls differently. Interestingly, neighbourhood characteristics were not associated with screen time or sleep duration for either boys or girls, suggesting that the neighbourhood environment may shape some health behaviours (like physical activity) more than others. The study used a large national registry and accounted for important factors that could explain the findings, strengthening confidence in the results. This research suggests that addressing neighbourhood-level factors — such as improving walkability, increasing access to green spaces, and reducing social and material deprivation — could be relevant considerations when designing programs to support physical activity in children and adolescents living with obesity. It also highlights that interventions may need to be tailored differently for boys and girls given the differing neighbourhood factors associated with their activity levels.
Tang Y, Semenic S, Baillot A, Riva M, Ball G, Hadjiyannakis S, et al.. (2026). Residential Neighbourhood Environments and Health Behaviours Among Children and Adolescents Initiating Obesity Management Care: Secondary Analyses of Data From the CANadian Paediatric Weight Management Registry (CANPWR).. Pediatric obesity. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.70087