Geospatial and Contextual Approaches to Energy Balance and Health.

View Abstract

In the past 15 years, a major research enterprise has emerged that is aimed at understanding associations between geographic and contextual features of the environment (especially the built environment) and elements of human energy balance, including diet, weight, and physical activity. Here we highlight aspects of this research area with a particular focus on research and opportunities in the United States as an example. We address four main areas: 1) The importance of valid and comparable data concerning behavior across geographies, 2) The ongoing need to identify and explore new environmental variables, 3) The challenge of identifying the causally relevant context, and 4) The pressing need for stronger study designs and analytical methods. Additionally, we discuss existing sources of geo-referenced health data which might be exploited by interdisciplinary research teams, personnel challenges and some aspects of funding for geospatial research by the US National Institutes of Health in the past decade, including funding for international collaboration and training opportunities.

Investigators
Abbreviation
Ann GIS
Publication Date
2015-03-13
Volume
21
Issue
2
Page Numbers
157-168
Pubmed ID
27076868
Medium
Print-Electronic
Full Title
Geospatial and Contextual Approaches to Energy Balance and Health.
Authors
Berrigan D, Hipp JA, Hurvitz PM, James P, Jankowska MM, Kerr J, Laden F, Leonard T, McKinnon RA, Powell-Wiley TM, Tarlov E, Zenk SN,