Meteorologic and Geographic Barriers to Physical Activity in a Workplace Wellness Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Inclement weather and home environment can hinder physical activity.
• It remains unclear if these environmental factors reduce physical activity in individuals enrolled in activity-promoting programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between meteorologic and geographic factors and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• To determine if environmental barriers affect physical activity levels in participants of a workplace financial incentives program.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a 6-month workplace financial incentives program.
• Employed multivariable models to assess the impact of temperature, precipitation, home location (urban/nonurban), and distance to work on weekly MVPA.
• Adjusted for demographic, clinical, and impulsivity factors.

Main Results:

• Participants living further from work (over 3 miles) engaged in significantly less MVPA (75 min/week) compared to those closer (105 min/week).
• Urban residents averaged less MVPA (70 min/week) than nonurban residents (91 min/week).
• Colder temperatures were linked to reduced MVPA, with impulsivity noted as a modifying factor.

Conclusions:

• Colder temperatures, increased distance from work, and urban residence are associated with lower levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• Environmental and geographic factors present significant barriers to maintaining physical activity.