THURS-054 - Geospatial Analysis of the Relationship Between Body-Mass-Index and Childhood Opportunity Index in Low-Income Latino Children

Brief Abstract Summary: Childhood obesity is a critical issue in Latino-populated regions like South Texas, where high rates among preschool-aged children underscore the need to understand contributing factors. The Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) assesses neighborhood influences on health. This study examines the spatial relationship between body mass index (BMI) and COI using baseline data from the ¡Míranos! project, an obesity prevention program for low-income Latino children in San Antonio. The study utilizes bivariate choropleth mapping and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) analysis to reveal geographic patterns. Results show varied BMI levels in low COI tracts, with some areas showing high obesity rates and others lower BMI. Some high COI tracts also had elevated BMI, suggesting that greater opportunity does not always equate to healthier outcomes. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive interventions to promote health equity and reduce obesity rates in this population.

Detailed abstract description: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, particularly among Latino communities in South Texas, presents a significant public health challenge influenced by various neighborhood-level factors. Despite disparities in obesity rates, the spatial relationship between these rates and environmental opportunities remains underexplored. This study aims to elucidate how community contexts, measured by the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), contribute to obesity disparities among preschool-aged children. By examining the intersection of obesity measured by body mass index (BMI) and neighborhood-level opportunity measured by COI, this research seeks to illuminate the social determinants of health that shape childhood obesity, providing insights for targeted public health interventions.
The study used baseline BMI data from participants (n=515, mean age 3.6 (SD 0.32)) in the ¡Míranos! project, an obesity prevention program for low-income Latino preschoolers in San Antonio. Participants' residential addresses were geocoded to census tracts, which were analyzed with 2019 census data to create geographic shapefiles for the study. The COI, an index available for every U.S. census tract from 2012 to 2021, measured neighborhood opportunity. The COI consists of 44 indicators across three domains—education, health and environment, and social and economic factors—offering an overview of a neighborhood’s capacity to support healthy child development, with higher COI scores indicating better community environments. To visualize the interplay between BMI and COI across census tracts, bivariate choropleth mapping was utilized, enabling the identification of high and low patterns. Additionally, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) analysis was conducted using R software to detect spatial clusters and identify significant relationships between BMI and neighborhood opportunity. This method enabled a clear examination of how neighborhood factors link to childhood obesity, helping to understand health disparities based on location.
The results suggest that census tracts in inner-city neighborhoods with low COI scores exhibited varied BMI levels among Latino preschoolers. Some areas had high obesity rates, while others had lower BMI. Certain tracts with high COI scores also showed elevated BMI, indicating that greater neighborhood opportunity does not always correspond with healthier BMI outcomes. These findings suggest that factors beyond neighborhood opportunity likely influence childhood obesity patterns in this population. The findings highlight the complexity of childhood obesity and the need for targeted interventions addressing diverse influences in Latino communities. This work supports ongoing public health efforts by advocating for culturally sensitive, community-based approaches to effectively reduce obesity rates among low-income Latino children in San Antonio.