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. 2007 Mar;97(3):486-92.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.085837. Epub 2007 Jan 31.

Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons

Ethan M Berke  1 , Thomas D Koepsell, Anne Vernez Moudon, Richard E Hoskins, Eric B Larson
Affiliations

Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons

Ethan M Berke et al. Am J Public Health. 2007 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether older persons who live in areas that are conducive to walking are more active or less obese than those living in areas where walking is more difficult.

Methods: We used data from the Adult Changes in Thought cohort study for a cross-sectional analysis of 936 participants aged 65 to 97 years. The Walkable and Bikable Communities Project previously formulated a walkability score to predict the probability of walking in King County, Washington. Data from the cohort study were linked to the walkability score at the participant level using a geographic information system. Analyses tested for associations between walkability score and activity and body mass index.

Results: Higher walkability scores were associated with significantly more walking for exercise across buffers (circular zones around each respondent's home) of varying radii (for men, odds ratio [OR]=5.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01, 34.17 to OR=9.14; CI=1.23, 68.11; for women, OR=1.63; CI=0.94, 2.83 to OR=1.77; CI=1.03, 3.04). A trend toward lower body mass index in men living in more walkable neighborhoods did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that neighborhood characteristics are associated with the frequency of walking for physical activity in older people. Whether frequency of walking reduces obesity prevalence is less clear.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Example analysis of participants in more walkable (a) and less walkable (b) neighborhoods. Note. The more walkable neighborhood has a denser street network and better connectivity of streets than does the less walkable neighborhood. Although the less walkable neighborhood appears to have more retail destinations, it is beyond the distance a respondent would be expected to walk.
FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Example analysis of participants in more walkable (a) and less walkable (b) neighborhoods. Note. The more walkable neighborhood has a denser street network and better connectivity of streets than does the less walkable neighborhood. Although the less walkable neighborhood appears to have more retail destinations, it is beyond the distance a respondent would be expected to walk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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