The influence of neighborhood socioeconomic status and walkability on TV viewing time.
BACKGROUND
Influences on TV viewing time, which is associated with adverse health outcomes such as obesity and diabetes, need clarification. We assessed the relation of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and walkability with TV viewing time in the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective study of African American women.


METHODS
We created neighborhood SES and walkability scores using data from the U.S. census and other sources. We estimated odds ratios for TV viewing 5+ hours/day compared with 0-1 hours/day for quintiles of neighborhood SES and walkability scores.


RESULTS
Neighborhood SES was inversely associated with TV viewing time. The odds ratio for watching 5+ hours/day in the highest compared with the lowest quintile of neighborhood SES was 0.66 (95% CI 0.54-0.81). Neighborhood walkability was not associated with TV viewing time.


CONCLUSIONS
Neighborhood SES should be considered in devising strategies to combat the high levels of sedentariness prevalent in African American women.
Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Patricia F
PF
Coogan
Laura F
LF
White
Stephen R
SR
Evans
Julie R
JR
Palmer
Lynn
L
Rosenberg
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002641:Chicago; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult