Neighborhood walkability and health outcomes among older adults: The mediating role of physical activity

Jelle Van Cauwenberg; Veerle Van Holle; Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij; Delfien Van Dyck; Benedicte Deforche

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.11.003

Neighborhood walkability and health outcomes among older adults: The mediating role of physical activity

Health Place. 2016 Jan:37:16-25. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.11.003. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Authors

Jelle Van Cauwenberg¹, Veerle Van Holle², Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij³, Delfien Van Dyck⁴, Benedicte Deforche⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: jelle.vancauwenberg@ugent.be.
² Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: veerle.vanholle@ugent.be.
³ Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: ilse.debourdeaudhuij@ugent.be.
⁴ Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: delfien.vandyck@ugent.be.
⁵ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: benedicte.deforche@ugent.be.

PMID: 26699447
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.11.003

Abstract

We examined the mediating role of physical activity on the relationships of walkability with Flemish older adults' health outcomes. In low income neighborhoods, residents of high walkable neighborhoods had a 1.5 kg/m(2) lower BMI than low walkable residents. Of this difference 0.3 kg/m(2) (19%) and 0.2 kg/m(2) (12%) were explained through walking for transport and MVPA, respectively. Similar findings were observed for waist circumference. Walkability did not relate to functional performance or quality of life. Walkable neighborhoods may benefit older adults' health, especially in low income neighborhoods. More research in other contexts is warranted to confirm current findings.

Keywords: Active transport; Environment; Seniors; Weight status.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Belgium
Body Weight / physiology*
Databases, Factual / statistics & numerical data
Environment Design*
Female
Humans
Male
Motor Activity
Quality of Life
Residence Characteristics*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Walking*