Measured and Self-reported Neighborhood Characteristics and Physical Activity Among African American Women

African American women are vulnerable to physical inactivity compared to white women. Measured and self-reported neighborhood characteristics may be associated with physical activity (PA), yet few studies have examined these factors among minority women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of measured and self-reported neighborhood characteristics with individual PA. The Pedestrian Environment Data Scan was completed for 25% of randomly selected residential street segments within a 400 meter radius of each participants’ address. African American women (N=262, M age=44.4 yrs) completed interviewer administered questionnaires assessing self-reported neighborhood characteristics. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long (M MET minutes/week=2519) and accelerometry (M MVPA=19.0 min/day). Most women were obese (N=176, 67.2%; M BMI= 34.0). IPAQ PA was not associated with accelerometer PA. Bivariate correlations suggested relationships between greater measured pedestrian facility density and more IPAQ transportation PA , greater reported pedestrian facility density and more IPAQ leisure time PA, greater reported bicycle facility density and more IPAQ moderate PA and IPAQ total PA (ps\u3c.05). Simultaneous ecological multiple regression models demonstrated that reported pedestrian facility density (Beta=.138, t=2.181) and body fat percentage (Beta= -.089, t= -1.398) were associated with IPAQ leisure time PA (R²=.027; p=.04), reported bicycle facility density (Beta=.138, t=2.161) was associated with IPAQ moderate PA (R²=.019; p=.03), and reported bicycle facility density (Beta=.130, t=2.041) was associated with IPAQ total PA (R²= .017; p=.04). No measured or reported neighborhood characteristics were associated with accelerometer measured PA. Measured and reported built environment attributes are significantly associated with self-reported PA but may be mediated by weight status

The concordance of directly and indirectly measured built environment attributes and physical activity adoption

<p/> <p>Background</p> <p>Physical activity (PA) adoption is essential for obesity prevention and control, yet ethnic minority women report lower levels of PA and are at higher risk for obesity and its comorbidities compared to Caucasians. Epidemiological studies and ecologic models of health behavior suggest that built environmental factors are associated with health behaviors like PA, but few studies have examined the association between built environment attribute concordance and PA, and no known studies have examined attribute concordance and PA adoption.</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to associate the degree of concordance between directly and indirectly measured built environment attributes with changes in PA over time among African American and Hispanic Latina women participating in a PA intervention.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Women (<it>N </it>= 410) completed measures of PA at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2); environmental data collected at T1 were used to compute concordance between directly and indirectly measured built environment attributes. The association between changes in PA and the degree of concordance between each directly and indirectly measured environmental attribute was assessed using repeated measures analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant associations between built environment attribute concordance values and change in self-reported or objectively measured PA. Self-reported PA significantly increased over time (<it>F</it>(1,184) = 7.82, <it>p </it>= .006), but this increase did not vary by ethnicity or any built environment attribute concordance variable.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Built environment attribute concordance may not be associated with PA changes over time among minority women. In an effort to promote PA, investigators should clarify specific built environment attributes that are important for PA adoption and whether accurate perceptions of these attributes are necessary, particularly among the vulnerable population of minority women.</p

Physical Activity Resource Attributes and Obesity in Low-Income African Americans

More than two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and African Americans are particularly vulnerable to obesity when compared to Caucasians. Ecological models of health suggest that lower individual and environmental socioeconomic status and the built environment may be related to health attitudes and behaviors that contribute to obesity. This cross-sectional study measured the direct associations of neighborhood physical activity resource attributes with body mass index (BMI) and body fat among low-income 216 African Americans (Mean (M) age = 43.5 years, 63.9% female) residing in 12 public housing developments. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment instrument measured accessibility, incivilities, and the quality of features and amenities of each physical activity resource within an 800-m radius around each housing development. Sidewalk connectivity was measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan instrument. Ecological multivariate regression models analyzed the associations between the built environment attributes and resident BMI and body fat at the neighborhood level. Sidewalk connectivity was associated with BMI (M = 31.3 kg/m2; p < 0.05). Sidewalk connectivity and resource accessibility were associated with body fat percentage (M = 34.8%, p < 0.05). Physical activity resource attributes and neighborhood sidewalk connectivity were related to BMI and body fat among low-income African Americans living in housing developments