Associations between Walk Score and objective measures of physical activity in urban overweight and obese women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the Walk Score and physical activity in young, overweight/obese urban women. Project Health included 45 White or African American women (BMI 31.5±3.9 kg/m 2 ; age 26.5±4.6 years; 62% African American) living in the Boston area. An accelerometer estimated steps/day and mins/day in light physical activity (100–2019 counts-per-minute) and moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (≥2020 cpm). Walk Score was used to estimate the walkability of home address by analyzing proximity to nearby amenities. General linear regression models estimated associations between total Walk Score and physical activity (light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity, steps, total activity counts, METs), adjusting for body mass index, age, race/ethnicity, seasonality, wear time, employment and student status. For physical activity variables that had significant associations with Walk Score (steps/day and steps/min), regression models were estimated for Walk Score sub-scores (parks, grocery, errands, shopping, dining/drinking, culture/entertainment and schools). Logistic regression models estimated the odds of meeting the guidelines for steps (≥10,000/day) and moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (≥150mins MVPA/week) based on Walk Score. Participants had a Walk Score of 63.9±26.4, took 14,143±3,934 steps/day, and spent 206.2±66.0 mins/day in light physical activity and 46.7±17.5 mins/day in moderate-to-vigorous- physical activity. Walk Score was significantly and positively associated with steps/day (β = 51.4, p = 0.01) and steps/min (β = 0.06, p = 0.009) but was not associated with mins/day of light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity, total activity counts or METs. Parks, grocery, errands, shopping, dining/drinking, and culture/entertainment Walk Score sub-scores were significantly associated with steps and steps/min (all p<0.05), but not significantly associated for schools. Participants who lived in higher Walk Score neighborhoods were more likely to meet the step guidelines (OR, 95% CI: 1.59, 1.04–2.99) and moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity guidelines (1.63, 1.06–3.02), respectively, per 10-unit increase in Walk Score. These results indicate that living in a more walkable neighborhood may support walking behavior in young, urban-dwelling overweight/obese women and provide further evidence for the expanded use of urban planning and transportation policies to improve the walkability of urban neighborhoods.

Participation in Social Activities and Relationship between Walking Habits and Disability Incidence

“…In the present study, we added the Walk Score, which is associated with the number of steps per day, minutes of leisure walking, and daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activities [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], to the covariates; however, future studies should add a method for the accurate measurement of the actual walking intensity and duration. We used the LTCI system for disability incidents.…”

“…Neighborhood walkability is associated with participation in physical and social activities by older adults [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The Walk Scores are associated with the number of steps per day, minutes of leisure walking, and daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activities [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. The Walk Score was calculated for all participants using their home addresses.…”

Comparing Methods to Identify Wear-Time Intervals for Physical Activity With the Fitbit Charge 2

“…Additionally, individuals with obesity took approximately 1,500 steps fewer than those with normal BMI (Bassett et al, 2017). Although a recent, small study of young, overweight urban women (62% African American) reported an overall average of 14,143 steps per day, the unexpectedly high step count is likely attributable to the young age (mean = 26.5 years), highly walkable urban environment (Boston, MA), racial heterogeneity (38% European American), lower BMI (mean = 31.5 kg/m 2 ), and use of a waist-worn accelerometer rather than Fitbit device (Camhi et al, 2019). Despite prior work demonstrating significantly different step counts based on individual characteristics such as age and BMI (Sisson, Camhi, Tudor-Locke, Johnson, & Katzmarzyk, 2012), our mixed-effects modeling at the week level did not identify any significant individual characteristics in the relationship with steps.…”

The Role of Walkability, Socio-Economic and Parental Cognitive Characteristics in Long Walking Journeys to School

“…Walkability has been defined as the degree to which the neighborhood environment can accommodate pedestrians’ activities ( 17 ). In a walkable neighborhood, walking activity is safe and encouraging ( 18 ) because of the built environmental features such as street connectivity, the presence of walking facilities, the proximity of shops and services, and residential density ( 19 ). Distance and walking time from home to school, either as an objective measure (based on direct observation of trips or using Geographic Information System [GIS] data) or subjective measure (based on individuals’ perception derived from surveys) have been identified as significant barriers for children’s active travel to school ( 20 ).…”