How far from home? The locations of physical activity in an urban U.S. setting

Abstract

Little is known about where physical activity (PA) occurs, or whether different demographic groups accumulate PA in different locations.

Method: Objective data on PA and location from 611 adults over 7days were collected in King County, WA in 2008-2009. The relative amounts of time spent in sedentary-to-low and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were quantified at three locations: "home" (<125m from geocoded home locations); "near" home (125-1666m, defining the home neighborhood); and "away" from home (>1666m). Differences in MVPA by demographics and location were examined. The percent of daily time in MVPA was estimated using a mixed model adjusted for location, sex, age, race/ethnicity, employment, education, BMI, and income.

Results: Most MVPA time occurred in nonhome locations, and disproportionately "near" home; this location was associated with 16.46% greater time in MVPA, compared to at-home activity (p<0.001), whereas more time spent at "away" locations was associated with 3.74% greater time in MVPA (p<0.001). Location was found to be a predictor of MVPA independent of demographic factors.

Conclusion: A large proportion of MVPA time is spent at "near" locations, corresponding to the home neighborhood studied in previous PA research. "Away" locations also host time spent in MVPA and should be the focus of future research.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Built environment; GIS; GPS; Objective measurement; Physical activity.