Kevin M. Leyden, PhD, Department of Political Science, West Virginia University, 301-C Woodburn Hall, PO BOX 6317, Morgantown, WV 26506, 304-293-3811 (ext. 5297), Kleyden@wvu.edu and Reger Reger, EdD, Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, PO BOX 9190, School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506.

Wheeling Walks was a community-based health promotion intervention conducted in a Wheeling, West Virginia during 2001 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (Reger, et al., 2002). The aim of the intervention was to motivate sedentary adults, ages 50-65, to become more physically active. The target behavior was 30 minutes of daily moderate-intensity walking. Social marketing techniques were employed in an eight-week media campaign using paid television, radio, and newspaper ads, media relations and community educational activities. A pre and post random digit dial telephone survey was used to determine campaign effectiveness and compared with a second control city (Parkesburg, WV) that did not receive the media campaign treatment. As a result of the intervention, 90% of the target population became aware of the campaign. There was a 14% net increase in walking in the target population. One section of the Wheeling Walks survey asked respondents 17 questions about their local built environment. These questions focused upon the quantity and quality of walkways available in the community. The paper we are proposing will examine the relationship between individual perceptions of the local built environment and the effect the media campaign had on their behavior. Our central question is: Were residents living in more walkable areas more likely to heed the campaign's message, all else being equal? We expect this paper to contribute to the growing literature examining the effects of the built environment on health (e.g., Leyden, 2003; Saelens, et al, 2003).

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate why the built environment is important for public health.
• Describe and discuss some of the methodological problems associated with measuring the built environment.
• Learn about new empirical research examining the relationship between the built environment and physical exercise.
• Apply insights learned to improve future interventions designed to encourage physical activity.

Keywords: Public Health Education and Health Promotion, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.