A longitudinal examination of objective neighborhood walkability, body mass index, and waist circumference: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study

Ian-Marshall Lang,Suzanne E. Judd,Cathy L. Antonakos,Natalie Colabianchi

doi:10.1186/s12966-022-01247-7

Abstract

BackgroundStudies have shown neighborhood walkability is associated with obesity. To advance this research, study designs involving longer follow-up, broader geographic regions, appropriate neighborhood characterization, assessment of exposure length and severity, and consideration of stayers and movers are needed. Using a cohort spanning the conterminous United States, this study examines the longitudinal relationship between a network buffer-derived, duration-weighted neighborhood walkability measure and two adiposity-related outcomes.MethodsThis study included 12,846 Black/African American and White adults in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were assessed at baseline and up to 13.3 years later (M (SD) = 9.4 (1.0) years). BMI and WC were dichotomized. Walk Score® was duration-weighted based on time at each address and categorized as Very Car-Dependent, Car-Dependent, Somewhat Walkable, Very Walkable, and Walker’s Paradise. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models tested each neighborhood walkability-adiposity association. Adjusted models controlled for demographics, health factors, neighborhood socioeconomic status, follow-up time, and either baseline BMI or baseline WC. Adjusted models also tested for interactions. Post-estimation Wald tests examined whether categorical variables had coefficients jointly equal to zero. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts tested for a linear trend in the neighborhood walkability-adiposity relationships.ResultsThe odds of being overweight/obese at follow-up were lower for residents with duration-weighted Walk Score® values in the Walker’s Paradise range and residents with values in the Very Walkable range compared to residents with values in the Very Car-Dependent range. Residents with duration-weighted Walk Score® values classified as Very Walkable had significantly lower odds of having a moderate-to-high risk WC at follow-up relative to those in the Very Car-Dependent range. For both outcomes, the effects were small but meaningful. The negative linear trend was significant for BMI but not WC.ConclusionPeople with cumulative neighborhood walkability scores in the Walker’s Paradise range were less likely to be overweight/obese independent of other factors, while people with scores in the Very Walkable range were less likely to be overweight/obese and less likely to have a moderate-to-high risk WC. Addressing neighborhood walkability is one approach to combating obesity.

Highlights

Studies have shown neighborhood walkability is associated with obesity
Those excluded from the analysis had significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) values at baseline and higher mean waist circumference (WC) values at baseline; were more likely to have a moderate-to-high risk WC at follow-up and less likely to be overweight/ obese at follow-up; were less likely to report at baseline that they have ever drank at least one drink per month for one year; and were more likely to live in a more walkable neighborhood, live in a neighborhood with a low SES, be a mover, be younger, have less education, identify as female, Black/African American, unmarried, and low-income
These differences suggest the results may not be generalizable to those who are at the intersection of disadvantage across race, income, education, and sex, as well as those who move often

Summary

Introduction

Studies have shown neighborhood walkability is associated with obesity. Study designs involving longer follow-up, broader geographic regions, appropriate neighborhood characterization, assessment of exposure length and severity, and consideration of stayers and movers are needed. Obesity is a worldwide problem contributing to poorer quality of life and decreased life expectancy in low-, middle-, and high-income countries [1]. These impacts on morbidity and mortality have been well studied using various measures of adiposity including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio [1, 2]. There is a need for stronger study designs to strengthen the evidence supporting the connection between neighborhood walkability and obesity

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion