TABLE 3.

Associations between urban sprawl and weighted‐related behaviors and outcomes in five included studies

First author (year)	Main findings on the association between urban sprawl and:
	Weight‐related behavior	Weight‐related outcome
Ewing (2006) 33 (including two longitudinal and two cross‐sectional analyses)	NA	(Cross‐Sectional Analysis Based on Round‐1 [1997] Data) • The county sprawl index was related to overweight in the expected direction at a significant level (β = −.0045, p = .014), after controlling for individual household characteristics and TV watching.
		(Cross‐Sectional Analysis Based on Round‐6 [2002] Data) • The association between the county sprawl index and obesity was statistically significant after controlling for exercise, diet and TV watching (β = −.0026, p = .048).
		(Longitudinal Analysis Based on all Consecutive Rounds) • Neither BMI at the mean age nor BMI growth with age was related to county sprawl, although both had the expected signs (β = −.00082, p = .78), after controlling for other predictors.
		(Longitudinal Analysis Based on the intercounty movers of all Consecutive Rounds) • The difference in degree of sprawl between counties was not associated with weight gain as measured by BMI after move (β = −.00022, p = .88), after controlling for other predictors.
Guarnizo‐Herreño (2019) 34	NA	• Overall, the proportion of population living in central cities was negatively associated with overweight/obesity (β = −.126, p < .05). • Among children from low‐income households, the proportion of population living in central cities was negatively associated with overweight/obesity (β = −.229, p < .01). • Among children from higher‐income households, the proportion of population living in central cities was positively associated with overweight/obesity (β = .114, p < .05).
Guettabi (2014) 35	NA	• The association between the metropolitan index of sprawl and BMI was statistically significant (β = −.0352, p < .05).
Schwartz (2011) 36	NA	• County sprawl index was associated with BMI in older children aged 10–18 (β = .009, p = .002).
Seliske (2012) 37	• Urban sprawl was associated with active transportation among 12‐ to 15‐year‐old (OR per SD increase = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10–1.39).• For the entire sample aged 12–19, higher urban sprawl was associated with higher MVPA (OR per SD increase = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.20).	• No association between urban sprawl and overweight/obesity was found (OR per SD increase = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.94–1.18).

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; MVPA, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity; OR, odds ratio; SD, standard deviation.