605 SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN RESPONSE TO SOCIOECONOMIC HETEROGENEITY. THE CASE OF ATHENS METROPOLITAN AREA, GREECE Christos CHALKIAS 1,* , Apostolos G. PAPADOPOULOS 2 , Giorgios MPENEKOS 3 , Kostas TAMBALIS 4 , Glykeria PSARRA 5 , Labros SIDOSSIS 6 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece. Tel. +30 210 9549347, Email: xalkias@hua.gr 2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece. Tel. +30 210 9549318, Email: apospapa@hua.gr 3 Geographer, Msc Student, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece, Email: gp210309@hua.gr 4 Researcer, Department of Science of Dietetics-Nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece, Email: dp425603@hua.gr 5 Phd Student, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece, Email: glpsarra@gmail.com 6 Professor, Department of Science of Dietetics-Nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Athens, 17671, Greece. Tel. +30 210 9549154, Email: lsidossis@hua.gr. ABSTRACT: Childhood obesity (ChO) is a major health issue especially in developed countries. Spatial analysis approaches of this issue focus on identifying spatial patterns of obesity and investigating the association between ChO and geographic conditions. The work of many researchers worldwide provides strong evidence of association between obesity and various environmental and socioeconomic factors. In this study we assess the relationship between ChO & overweight with socioeconomic factors in Athens metropolitan area; an area where severe socioeconomic segregations exists. At the first stage of this analysis, the identification of spatial clusters of high ChO rates in Athens metropolitan area is implemented. For this purpose, geospatial research for the “obesity/overweight epidemic” is implemented with the use of GIS technology in a spatial analysis research context. The first findings show clustering of ChO and overweight rates across Athens metropolitan area and some spatial differences especially between obesity – overweight and/or male – female rates. Moreover, it seems that the spatial clusters of ChO are concentrated in areas with degrated socioeconomic conditions. The results of this analysis could be beneficial for ChO prevention and reduction actions and policies. KEYWORDS ChO, Spatial Clustering, socioeconomic heterogeneity, Athens Metropolitan Area, Geography of Health 1. INTRODUCTION Childhood obesity (ChO) has been recognized as an epidemic in many developed and developing countries (Martorell et al 2000, James, 2008). Specifically, in Greece, the prevalence of ChO has increased by approximately 50% in the last decade, and nowadays over 40% of children are exceeding normal weight, raising serious concerns for their health (Georgiadis & Nassis 2007). Obesity in children is associated with immediate health risk factors (e.g. diabetes, hypertension e.t.c.), a higher risk of being obese in adulthood and also influences social and psychological functioning (Williams et al 2005). Moreover, the food habits and culture of the children will influence their future wellbeing and happiness, reflecting at the same time their familty socio-economic status and living conditions. The study of spatial clustering in ChO/overweight could be a useful tool to develop and evaluate targeted public health policies. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate the spatial clustering of ChO/overweight, in almost all 8- to 9-year old children in Athens metropolitan area, Greece. For this purpose, geospatial research for the “obesity/overweight epidemic” was implemented with the use of GIS technology in a spatial analysis research context.