Fiechtner, LaurenCheng, Erika R.Lopez, GabrielSharifi, MonaTaveras, Elsie M.2018-08-072018-08-072017-04Fiechtner, L., Cheng, E. R., Lopez, G., Sharifi, M., & Taveras, E. M. (2017). Multilevel Correlates of Healthy BMI Maintenance and Return to a Healthy BMI among Children in Massachusetts. Childhood Obesity, 13(2), 146–153. http://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2016.0261https://hdl.handle.net/1805/17022OBJECTIVES: To examine predictors of healthy BMI maintenance (HBM) or return to a healthy BMI (RHB) among children. METHODS: We studied 33,272 children in Massachusetts between 2008 and 2012. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine associations of individual- and neighborhood-level factors with the odds of: (1) HBM: maintenance of a healthy BMI ≥5th to <85th percentile and (2) RHB: transition to a healthy BMI range from an initial BMI ≥85th percentile between two clinic visits spanning an average of 3.5 years. RESULTS: Racial/ethnic minorities had lower odds of HBM and RHB than non-Hispanic white children. Higher neighborhood educational attainment was associated with an increased odds of HBM and RHB. Higher neighborhood median household income, proximity to a supermarket, and access to more open recreational space were associated with a higher odds of HBM. Children of ages 2-5 years at baseline had higher odds of RHB and HBM than children 13 years and older. CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood interventions and efforts to create health-promoting neighborhoods including improving access to supermarkets and open recreational space could have important effects on obesity prevention and management.en-USPublisher PolicyBuilt environmentChildhood obesityReturn to healthy weightArticle