Neighborhood design for walking and biking: physical activity and body mass index.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neighborhood designs often relate to physical activity and to BMI.

Purpose

Does neighborhood walkability/bikeability relate to BMI and obesity risk and does moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) account for some of the relationship?

Methods

Census 2000 provided walkability/bikeability measures-block group proportions of workers who walk or bike to work, housing age, and population density-and National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES 2003-2006) provided MVPA accelerometer measures. Regression analyses (2011-2012) adjusted for geographic clustering and multiple control variables.

Results

Greater density and older housing were associated with lower male BMI in bivariate analyses, but there were no density and housing age effects i

SUBMITTER: Brown BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3690570 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature