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Published on: March 7, 2019
Cross-Sectional Associations of Neighborhood Walkability With Baseline Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Among
Neela D Thangada1, Nicola Lancki2, Stephen J Mooney3
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Introduction:
The associations between neighborhood walkability, physical activity, and sedentary time have not been studied among U.S. South Asian adults, a group with significantly higher cardiovascular disease mortality than other race-ethnic groups.
Methods:
The SAHELI study randomized South Asians from the Chicago, IL metro area (those aged 18-65 years with cardiovascular disease risk factors) to a 16-week lifestyle intervention versus control between 2018 and 2023. At baseline, total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, and sedentary time were measured by accelerometer. Neighborhood walkability measures included the Environmental Protection Agency Walkability Index and the proportion of Google Street View images in a neighborhood containing crosswalks, sidewalks, and parks. In posthoc analyses, multiple linear regressions estimated the associations between each neighborhood walkability measure and baseline total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, and sedentary time.
Results:
Participants from SAHELI with valid accelerometer data and neighborhood walkability data were included (N=432; 59% female, 98% immigrant, 79% Indian origin). Mean ± SD total physical activity was 9,853 ± 5,328 steps per day; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 24 ± 19 minutes per day; light physical activity was 299 ± 95 minutes per day; and sedentary time was 564 ± 136 minutes per day. Neighborhood walkability measures were not associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In fully adjusted models, Environmental Protection Agency Walkability Index and sidewalks were significantly associated with higher total physical activity and light physical activity and lower sedentary time, whereas crosswalks were significantly associated with total physical activity. Parks were not associated with total physical activity, light physical activity, or sedentary time.
Conclusions:
The Environmental Protection Agency Walkability Index and sidewalks were significantly associated with higher total physical activity and light physical activity and lower sedentary time but not with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Neighborhood walkability should be considered when designing cardiovascular disease prevention interventions that promote physical activity and minimize sedentary time among U.S. South Asians.
