Association of Neighborhood Design and Recreation Environment Variables with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Adolescents

• Published in: American journal of health promotion Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 274 - 277
• Main Authors: Kligerman, Morton, Sallis, James F., Ryan, Sherry, Frank, Lawrence D., Nader, Philip R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-03-2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environment Design; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Health Promotion - methods; Health technology assessment; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Mexican Americans; Motor Activity; Neighbourhoods; Obesity; Physical activity; Prevention; Recreation; Residence Characteristics; Walking; Obesity; Manuscript format: research; Outcome measure: behavioral; Study design: cross-sectional; Target population circumstances: geographic location, race/ethnicity; Health focus: fitness/physical activity; Youth; Prevention Research; GIS; Target population age: youth; Strategy: built environment; Accelerometer; Environment; Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing; Setting: local community
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.4278/0890-1171-21.4.274

Purpose.
To examine associations of neighborhood walkability and recreation environment variables with physical activity in adolescents.
Methods.
The cross-sectional study was conducted with 98 white or Mexican-American adolescents (mean age = 16.2 years). Physical activity was measured with 7 days of accelerometer monitoring. Height and weight were measured to compute body mass index (BMI). Environmental measures were created using geographic information systems. A neighborhood walkability index was based on land use mix, retail density, street connectivity, and residential density. Proximity to public and private recreation facilities was assessed.
Results.
In a linear regression, the walkability index within 0.5 mile of homes was related to minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, explaining approximately 4% of variance. Recreation variables were not related to physical activity, and BMI was not explained by environmental variables.
Conclusion.
Neighborhood walkability was related to adolescents' physical activity, similar to findings for adults.