The built environment and overweight in Shanghai: Examining differences in urban and rural contexts

Overweight is a serious threat to public health. Although many studies have examined the association of the built environment with overweight, it remains unclear whether the relationship varies by urban and rural contexts. This study applied binary logit regression models to explore how the built environment was associated with overweight, using a sample of 1350 adults from urban (the built-up area) and rural (Chongming Island) areas in Shanghai. The results show that mixed land use and fewer supermarkets are positively related to overweight in both urban and rural areas. Higher road density has a negative association with overweight in urban areas, but is not significantly related to overweight in rural areas. We conclude that associations of the built environment with overweight differ in urban and rural contexts.