title: Associations between safety from crime, cycling, and obesity in a Dutch elderly population: results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.
abstract: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate differences in associations between crime rates, cycling, and weight status between people living in low and high socioeconomic status (SES) neighbourhoods. In total, 470 participants in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were included (age: 63-70 y). Body height and weight were measured using a stadiometer and calibrated weight scale, respectively. Cycling behaviour was assessed in a face-to-face interview, and neighbourhood crime rates were assessed using data from police reports. Men residing in high SES neighbourhoods cycled more than males residing in low SES neighbourhoods. Cycling was negatively related to crime rates among both men and women living in low SES neighbourhoods. Among men living in low SES neighbourhoods, more cycling was associated with lower BMI. Interventions aiming to prevent obesity in older people may consider aiming at increasing bicycle use in lower SES neighbourhoods, but neighbourhood safety issues should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. s.kremers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Stef P J
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: de Bruijn
authors.forename: Tommy L S
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Visscher
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.forename: G C Fleur
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Thomése
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brug
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003415:Crime; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires