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Activity space environment and dietary and physical activity behaviors: a pilot study
Shannon N Zenk1, Amy J Schulz, Stephen A Matthews
1Department of Health Systems Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 South Damen Avenue M/C 802, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. szenk@uic.edu
Health & Place
|June 24, 2011
Summary
Activity spaces, not just neighborhoods, influence diet. Researchers used GPS tracking to analyze how the environment within people's daily activity spaces impacts their eating habits and physical activity, offering new insights into obesity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental health
- Obesity research
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Understanding environmental influences on weight-related behaviors is crucial for public health.
- Traditional studies often focus on residential neighborhoods, potentially overlooking broader environmental exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between individual demographics, neighborhood and activity space environmental features, and weight-related behaviors.
- To investigate whether activity spaces offer new insights into environmental influences on obesity-related behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Participants' movement was tracked for 7 days using global positioning systems (GPS).
- Two activity space measures (one standard deviation ellipse, daily path area) were derived from GPS data.
- Environmental features of residential neighborhoods and activity spaces were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Activity spaces were generally larger than residential neighborhoods.
- Environmental features of residential neighborhoods and activity spaces showed weak associations.
- Certain environmental features within activity spaces were associated with dietary behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Activity spaces, beyond residential neighborhoods, play a role in shaping environmental influences on obesity-related behaviors.
- The findings suggest that considering activity spaces may provide a more comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts on diet and physical activity.
- Further research into activity space characteristics can inform targeted public health interventions for obesity prevention.
