Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the built environment and walking: effect modification by socioeconomic status.

BACKGROUND: Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to modify associations between the neighborhood built environment and physical activity, contradictory results exist. Objectives of this cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis were to: 1) examine whether overall neighborhood walkability and specific built characteristics were associated with walking among adults at a single point in time and after they relocate neighborhoods, and 2) test for effect modification of these associations by SES. METHODS: We linked longitudinal data from 703 adults who relocated urban neighborhoods between two waves of Alberta's Tomorrow Project (2008-2015) to neighborhood built environment data. We created a walkability index from measures of population counts, street connectivity, and destination diversity within 400 m of participants' homes. In cross-sectional analyses, we used generalized linear models to estimate associations between built characteristics and minutes walked per week at baseline. For the longitudinal analyses, we used fixed-effects linear regression models to estimate associations between changes in built characteristics and minutes walked per week. We also assessed if indicators of SES (individual education or household income) modified both sets of associations. RESULTS: Most cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were small and statistically non-significant. Neighborhood population count (b = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07) and street connectivity (b = - 1.75, 95% CI: - 3.26, - 0.24) were cross-sectionally associated with walking duration among the overall sample. None of the longitudinal associations were statistically significant among the overall sample. There was limited evidence of effect modification by SES, however, we found negative cross-sectional associations between street connectivity and walking among adults with lower education and income, and a positive association between percent change in walkability and change in walking among lower educated adults. CONCLUSIONS: Despite population count and street connectivity being associated with walking at baseline, changes in these built environment variables were not associated with changes in walking following residential relocation. Our findings also provide evidence, albeit weak, that changes in neighborhood walkability, resulting from residential relocation, might more strongly affect walking among low SES adults. Further longitudinal research is needed to examine built environment characteristics with walking for different purposes and to test for inequitable socioeconomic impacts.

Associations between neighbourhood built characteristics and sedentary behaviours among Canadian men and women: findings from Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

Evidence of associations between neighbourhood built characteristics and sedentary behaviours is mixed. The study aim was to investigate the associations between objectively-derived neighbourhood built characteristics and self-reported sedentary behaviours among Canadian men and women. This study sourced survey data from Alberta's Tomorrow Project (2008; n = 14,785), in which sitting and motor vehicle travel times during the last 7 days was measured. Geographic Information System was used to calculate neighbourhood built characteristics within a 400 m buffer of participant's home and a walkability score was estimated. To estimate the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and sedentary behaviours, covariate-adjusted generalized linear regression models were used. Walkability, 3-way intersections, and population count were positively associated with sitting time. Business destinations and greenness were negatively associated with sitting time. Walkability, 3-way, and 4-way intersections were negatively associated with motor vehicle travel time. Sex-specific associations between neighbourhood characteristics and sedentary behaviour were found. Among men, business destinations were negatively associated with sitting time, and 3-way intersections, population count, and walkability were negatively associated with motor vehicle travel time. Among women, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was negatively associated with sitting time. Interventions to reduce sedentary behaviours may need to target neighbourhoods that have built characteristics which might support these behaviours. More research is needed to disentangle the complex relationships between different neighbourhood built characteristics and specific types of sedentary behaviour.

Evidence for urban design and public health policy and practice: Space syntax metrics and neighborhood walking.

Most walkability indices do not capture the topological structure of urban forms. Space syntax models these topological relationships. We estimated associations between the space syntax measure of street integration and walkability (SSW) and neighborhood-specific leisure (LW) and transportation (TW) walking among 4422 Canadian adults. Street integration and SSW were found to be positively associated with TW and LW participation in a usual week. A one-unit increase in SSW was associated with a 6-min increase in usual weekly minutes of TW. Street integration and SSW were also positively associated with TW participation in the last week. Higher street integration and walkability conceptualized using space syntax support neighborhood walking.

Associations between the traditional and novel neighbourhood built environment metrics and weight status among Canadian men and women.

OBJECTIVES: Neighbourhood characteristics can impact the health of residents. This study investigated associations between objectively derived neighbourhood characteristics, including novel space syntax metrics, and self-reported body mass index (BMI) among Canadian men and women. METHODS: Our study included survey data collected from a random cross-section of adults residing in Calgary, Alberta (n = 1718). The survey, conducted in 2007/2008, captured participants' socio-demographic characteristics, health, and weight status (BMI). Participants' household postal codes were geocoded and 1600-m line-based network buffers estimated. Using a geographical information system, we estimated neighbourhood characteristics within each buffer including business destination density, street intersection density, sidewalk length, and population density. Using space syntax, we estimated street integration and walkability (street integration plus population density) within each buffer. Using adjusted regression models, we estimated associations between neighbourhood characteristics and BMI (continuous) and BMI categories (healthy weight vs. overweight including obese). Gender-stratified analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Business destination density was negatively associated with BMI and the odds of being overweight. Among men, street intersection density and sidewalk length were negatively associated with BMI and street intersection density, business destination density, street integration, and space syntax walkability were negatively associated with odds of being overweight. Among women, business destination density was negatively associated with BMI. CONCLUSION: Urban planning policies that impact neighbourhood design have the potential to influence weight among adults living in urban Canadian settings. Some characteristics may have a differential association with weight among men and women and should be considered in urban planning and in neighbourhood-focussed public health interventions.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Les caractéristiques du quartier peuvent avoir des incidences sur la santé des personnes qui y habitent. Notre étude porte sur les associations entre les caractéristiques du quartier objectivement dérivées, dont les nouvelles mesures de syntaxe spatiale, et l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) autodéclaré chez les femmes et les hommes au Canada. MéTHODE: L'étude inclut des données d'enquête provenant d'un échantillon aléatoire d'adultes vivant à Calgary, en Alberta (n = 1 718). L'enquête, menée en 2007-2008, a saisi les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, l'état de santé et le statut pondéral (IMC) des participants. Nous avons géocodé le code postal du ménage de chaque participant et estimé les zones tampons d'un réseau de corridors linéaires de 1 600 mètres. À l'aide d'un système d'information géographique, nous avons estimé les caractéristiques du quartier dans chaque zone tampon, dont la densité de destinations d'affaires, la densité d'intersections de rues, la longueur des trottoirs et la densité de population. En faisant appel à la syntaxe spatiale, nous avons estimé l'intégration des rues et la marchabilité (intégration des rues plus densité de population) dans chaque zone tampon. À l'aide de modèles de régression ajustés, nous avons estimé les associations entre les caractéristiques du quartier et l'IMC (en continu) et les catégories d'IMC (poids-santé vs. surpoids, y compris l'obésité). Une analyse stratifiée selon le sexe a également été effectuée. RéSULTATS: La densité de destinations d'affaires était négativement associée à l'IMC et à la probabilité de surpoids. Chez les hommes, la densité d'intersections de rues et la longueur des trottoirs étaient négativement associées à l'IMC, et la densité d'intersections de rues, la densité de destinations d'affaires, l'intégration des rues et la syntaxe spatiale de marchabilité étaient négativement associées à la probabilité de surpoids. Chez les femmes, la densité de destinations d'affaires était négativement associée à l'IMC. CONCLUSION: Les politiques de planification urbaine qui touchent la conception des quartiers ont le potentiel d'influencer le poids des adultes en milieu urbain au Canada. Pour certaines caractéristiques, l'association avec le poids peut être différente entre les hommes et les femmes; il faudrait en tenir compte dans la planification urbaine et les interventions de santé publique au niveau des quartiers.

Associations between the neighbourhood characteristics and body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio: Findings from Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

This study estimated the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and self-reported body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) risk categories among Canadian men and women. Using data from the Alberta's Tomorrow Project (n = 14,550), we estimated 3- and 4-way intersections, business destinations, population count, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 400 m radius of participant's home. Intersections, business destinations, and population count (z-scores) were summed to create a walkability score. Four-way intersections and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Walkability was negatively associated with obesity. NDVI was negatively associated with high-risk WHR and population count and walkability positively associated with high-risk WHR. Among men, population count and walkability were negatively associated with obesity, and business destinations and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Among women, NDVI was negatively associated with overweight (including obesity), obesity, and high-risk WC. Interventions promoting healthy weight could incorporate strategies that take into consideration local built environment characteristics.