Activity space metrics not associated with sociodemographic variables, diet or health outcomes in the Seattle Obesity Study II

Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol. 2019 Aug:30:100289. doi: 10.1016/j.sste.2019.100289. Epub 2019 Jul 12.

Abstract

Background: Activity spaces (AS), captured using GPS tracking devices, are measures of dynamic exposure to the built environment (BE).

Methods: Seven days of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracking data were obtained for 433 adult participants in the Seattle Obesity Study (SOS II). Heights and weights were measured. Dietary intakes from a food frequency questionnaire were used to calculate Healthy Eating Index (HEI 2010) scores. Linear regression analyses examined associations between AS measures: daily route length, convex hull, and radius of gyration, and diet quality and health outcomes, adjusting for covariates.

Results: AS measures did not vary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. AS measures were not associated with diet quality or with self-reported obesity or diabetes. One AS measure, route length (in miles), was associated with being employed, living in the suburbs, and with distance and time commuting to work.

Conclusion: Spatial mobility studies based on GPS tracking of environmental exposure need to demonstrate a link to relevant health outcomes.

Keywords: Activity space; BMI; Built environment (BE); HEI 2010; Route length.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anthropometry / methods
  • Built Environment* / standards
  • Built Environment* / statistics & numerical data
  • Data Accuracy
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Environmental Health / methods
  • Environmental Health / standards
  • Epidemiologic Factors*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Geographic Information Systems / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity* / diagnosis
  • Obesity* / epidemiology
  • Obesity* / prevention & control
  • Spatio-Temporal Analysis
  • United States