Weighing the importance of neighbourhood: A multilevel exploration of the determinants of overweight and obesity

Overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in many countries, including Canada. In addition to becoming critical public health challenges in and of themselves, they represent major risk factors for chronic disease and disability (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes). The various symptoms and co-morbidities associated with these chronic conditions place tremendous stress on the Canadian health care system, generating economic …