Home environments, physical activity, and energy expenditure among low-income overweight and obese women.
Ecologic models of physical activity identify multiple environmental domains that influence activity levels, including the home. This study examined aspects of the home environment associated with objective measures of physical activity in overweight and obese women. Study participants were recruited through three federally qualified health centers in rural southwest Georgia as part of a randomized controlled trial of a home-environment-focused weight gain prevention intervention. Data collected from February 2011 to December 2012 were from 301 participants who completed baseline interviews and wore accelerometers for 7 days. Most were African American (83.4%) and obese (50.5%) or morbidly obese with body mass index ≥40 (35.6%). Mean age was 50.6 years. Participants were highly sedentary, with 7.9 hours of non-sedentary time per week, primarily in light activity. In a multivariate model, exercise equipment (p = .03), family support (p = .02), and full-time employment (p = .03) were positively associated with non-sedentary time, whereas age (p = .003), living in a more rural area (p = .03), and having an exercise space (p = .01) were negatively associated. Home environments may be promising targets for programs aimed at increasing activity levels among overweight and obese women.
a Emory Prevention Research Center, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Michelle C
MC
Kegler
a Emory Prevention Research Center, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Regine
R
Haardörfer
a Emory Prevention Research Center, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Iris
I
Alcantara
a Emory Prevention Research Center, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Julie A
JA
Gazmararian
a Emory Prevention Research Center, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Alexandra
A
Gemma
b Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center , Albany , Georgia , USA.
Pam
P
Reynolds
c HHGU, Inc.: The iPositive Movement , Albany , Georgia , USA.
Cecillia
C
Morris
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
African American; home environment; low-income; obesity; physical activity; women