Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118008

Janice S. Emerson, MS¹, Pamela C. Hull, PhD¹, Michelle C. Reece, MS², Dustin C. Brown, MA¹, Baqar A. Husaini, PhD¹, and Robert S. Levine, MD³. (1) Center for Health Research, Tennessee State University, Box 9580, 3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37209, (2) Tennessee State University, Center for Health Research, 3500 John Merritt Boulevard, Box 9580, Nashville, TN 37209, 615-320-3005, michellereece@hotmail.com, (3) Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr DB Todd Jr Blvd - Box 52A, Nashville, TN 37208

PURPOSE: This paper examines the impact of community environmental factors on individual physical activity levels.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence points to the importance of the built environment in influencing patterns of physical activity. However, most studies use only aggregate data, rather than multilevel analyses of community-level factors and individual-level outcomes.

METHODS: Individual-level data consist of a random sample of households (N=272 adults) in zipcode areas comprising the catchment area of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, which largely serves minority and low-income populations. Community-level data consist of 2000 Census data for corresponding zipcode areas of residence (N=18). Multilevel linear and logistic regression models were estimated.

RESULTS: Respondents reported that they engage in moderate physical activity for an average of 118 minutes per week. Only 17% percent of respondents met the recommended level of moderate physical activity (five days a week for 30+ minutes), and 36% engaged in no physical activity. When controlling for background factors, individuals living in areas with greater percentages of vacant housing units or greater percentages of owner-occupied housing units had lower levels of overall moderate physical activity time per week. Individuals living in areas with greater percentages of household units built before 1960 had higher levels of overall moderate physical activity time per week. People living in communities with higher levels of public transportation use had greater odds of meeting the recommended level of moderate physical activity.

CONCLUSION: Additional research should continue to examine the ways that environmental characteristics of communities hinder or facilitate active lifestyles.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe several aspects of community environment that impact levels of physical activity

Keywords: Environment, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.