Policy-maker Perspectives on Youth Health and the Built Environment: Focus Groups with Atlantic Canadian Planners

Abstract

As obesity rates have climbed, the planning literature has identified possible connections between health and the built environment. This paper reports on the results of focus group discussions with planners and policy-members in Atlantic Canada, a region with high youth obesity rates. Planner participants showed limited knowledge of the way that planning and zoning policies could affect healthy eating options for youth. They believed that the built environment affected mobility outcomes but commonly attributed obesity to lifestyle choices. The research identifies the need for greater communication and collaboration amongst different government departments and levels to increase understanding of potential links between the built environment and health outcomes for youth.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research—Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health and Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, through the Built Environment, Obesity and Health initiative (2007–2010). The authors are grateful to Kathryn MacKay and Darren Shupe for research assistance, and to Tara-Leigh McHugh and Karin Kronstal for group facilitation. Other members of the ENACT research project team include Renee Lyons, Michael Arthur, Chris Blanchard, Andrea Chircop, Trevor Dummer, Sara Kirk, Tara-Leigh McHugh, Louise Parker, Robert Pitter, Daniel Rainham, Laurene Rehman, Cindy Shearer, and Chris Shields.