Associations of neighborhood walkability with moderate to vigorous physical activity: an application of compositional data analysis comparing compositional and non-compositional approaches

• Published in: The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 55 - 10
• Main Authors: Bird, Madeleine, Datta, Geetanjali D, Chinerman, Deanna, Kakinami, Lisa, Mathieu, Marie-Eve, Henderson, Mélanie, Barnett, Tracie A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18-05-2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Adolescent; Behavior; Body mass index; Built environment; Child; Children & youth; Compositional data analysis; Data Analysis; Data collection; Education; Environment Design - statistics & numerical data; Environmental aspects; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise for children; Female; Geographic information systems; Health aspects; Humans; Land use; Male; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Neighborhood; Neighborhoods; Obesity; Parents & parenting; Pediatric research; Physical fitness for children; QUALITY cohort; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Sedentary Behavior; Sedentary behaviour; Statistical analysis; Traffic; Walkability; Walking; Canada; Montreal Quebec Canada; 24-hour movement behaviour; Sedentary behaviour; QUALITY cohort; Youth; Built environment; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Walkability; Compositional data analysis
• ISSN: 1479-5868; 1479-5868
• DOI: 10.1186/s12966-022-01256-6

We compared the relation between neighborhood features and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using linear regression analysis and the more novel compositional data analysis (CoDA). Compositional data analysis allows us to take the time children allocate to different movement behaviours during a 24-hour time period into account.
Data from youth participants (n = 409) in the QUALITY (QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) cohort were included. Time spent in MVPA, light physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep ("24-hour movement behaviours") was measured using accelerometers. Neighborhood data were collected using a geographic information system and through direct observation. In CoDA models, we used orthogonal logratio coordinates, which allows for the association of neighbourhood walkability with MVPA to be estimated with respect to the average composition of all other behaviours within a 24-hour time frame. In baseline linear regression models, MVPA was regressed cross-sectionally on neighborhood walkability. All models were stratified by sex, and controlled for BMI z-scores, pubertal development, seasonal variation, parental education, and neighbourhood safety.
Based on CoDA, girls who lived in more walkable neighborhoods had 10% higher daily MVPA (95% CI: 2%, 19%), taking into account all other movement behaviours. Based on linear regression, girls who resided in more walkable neighborhoods engaged in 4.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 6.6) more minutes of MVPA per day on average than girls residing in less walkable neighborhoods.
Unlike with traditional linear models, all movement behaviours were included in a single model using CoDA, allowing for a more complete picture of the strength and direction of the association between neighbourhood Walkability and MVPA. Application of CoDA to investigate determinants of physical activity provides additional insight into potential mechanisms and the ways in which people allocate their time.