Built environment and 1-year change in weight and waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults: Portland Neighborhood Environment and Health Study.
This study examined neighborhood built environment characteristics (fast-food restaurant density, walkability) and individual eating-out and physical activity behaviors in relation to 1-year change in body weight among adults 50-75 years of age at baseline. The authors surveyed 1,145 residents recruited from 120 neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon. During the 1-year follow-up (2006-2007 to 2007-2008), mean weight increased by 1.72 kg (standard deviation, 4.3) and mean waist circumference increased by 1.76 cm (standard deviation, 5.6). Multilevel analyses revealed that neighborhoods with a high density of fast-food outlets were associated with increases of 1.40 kg in weight (P<0.05) and 2.04 cm in waist circumference (P<0.05) among residents who visited fast-food restaurants frequently. In contrast, high-walkability neighborhoods were associated with decreases of 1.2 kg in weight (P<0.05) and 1.57 cm in waist circumference (P<0.05) among residents who increased their levels of vigorous physical activity during the 1-year assessment period. Findings point to the negative influences of the availability of neighborhood fast-food outlets and individual unhealthy eating behaviors that jointly affect weight gain; however, better neighborhood walkability and increased levels of physical activity are likely to be associated with maintaining a healthy weight over time.
Li
Fuzhong
F
Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. fuzhongl@ori.org
Harmer
Peter
P
Cardinal
Bradley J
BJ
Bosworth
Mark
M
Johnson-Shelton
Deborah
D
Moore
Jane M
JM
Acock
Alan
A
Vongjaturapat
Naruepon
N
D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D001835:Body Weight; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012147:Restaurants; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology