Impact of community built environment on residents' health: A case study on individual overweight

With the rapid economic development and living condition improvement in China, the problem of obesity becomes increasingly serious and threats to the residents' health. Based on the data of China family panel studies, this study examined the association among community built environment, individual commuting mode choice and overweight of adults with the structural equation model. It is concluded that community built environment has a significant effect on individual commuting mode choice and overweight. After social economic factors are controlled, improving population density and degree of accessibility of facilities, shortening the distance to the nearest bus station will lower the likelihood of overweight by the intermediary role of reducing private motorized commuting; however, the direct and total effects are positive. The latter conclusion contrasts with findings from western developed countries. In order to alleviate the obesity problem of China through geographical perspective, we should make urban planning policy according to China's own conditions and rules.