title: The effect of weather on walking behavior in older adults.
abstract: In this article, the authors examine how temperature and precipitation affect the probability that a retired American between the ages of 65 and 90 walks at least 2.5 hr/wk, using longitudinal data on walking frequency from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a subpanel in the Health and Retirement Survey. Walking behavior is linked with monthly temperature and precipitation data from weather-station reports. The authors found that higher temperatures were associated with a higher probability of walking at least 2.5 hr/wk for women. In contrast, higher temperatures are associated with a lower probability of walking at least 2.5 hr/wk among men. Precipitation is not significantly associated with walking behavior for either gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: W Douglass
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Trousdale
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011891:Rain; D057566:Self Report; D012914:Snow; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors