RWJF alumnus Adam Lippert has recently published an article titled “Neighborhood Crime Rate, Weight-Related Behaviors, and Obesity: A Systematic Review of the Literature” in Sociology Compass.  The piece, which is a review of current literature, identifies the effects of neighborhood-level crime on obesity and physical activity outside of socioeconomic correlates. Findings from this review suggest a positive correlation between the crime rate in an area (especially violent crime) and higher body mass index / reduced physical activity for residents in those areas.

Update: This study has been featured on PsychCentral and other news outlets.