161419 Association Between Physical Activity and Land Use Neighborhood Clusters in Adolescents

Monday, November 5, 2007

Deborah R. Young, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Kelly Clifton, PhD , Urban Studies and Planning, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Carolyn Voorhees, MS, PhD , Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Min Qi Wang, PhD , Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Gerrit Knaap, PhD , Urban Studies and Planning, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Background: Evidence suggests that built environment features are associated with physical activity. Much of the previous work has examined discrete features of the environment, however, rather than combining features that may co-exist to form clusters.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between physical activity and neighborhoods clustered by land use features. Because the literature is just emerging on these associations in youth, physical activity of adolescents was evaluated.

Methods: 23 land use variables (e.g., land use mix, population density, % residential areas within walking distance to a transit route) were collected using GIS methods. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to combine the variables to classify neighborhood tracts of Baltimore, MD into land use clusters. Students recruited from 2 all-city high schools (213 girls; 164 boys) wore Actigraph accelerometers for 7 consecutive days and also completed a survey to assess the context in which physical activity occurred (i.e., type, location, with whom). Daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, adjusted for intensity (METs) occurring outside of school were determined. Home addresses were geocoded and assigned to a land-use cluster.

Results: Cluster analysis revealed 4 distinct clusters: Arterial Development, Central Neighborhood, Suburban Residential, and Central Business District. Results will show associations between daily MET-weighted minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity and land use cluster. The most common types and locations of physical activity also will be presented. Data will be presented overall and stratified by sex.

Conclusions: The association between physical activity and land use clusters is complex.

Learning Objectives:
1. To introduce methods of aggregating environmental variables 2. To describe the association between built environment features and physical activity in adolescents 3. To understand how context of physical activity may be an important factor to consider when evaluating associations.

Keywords: Adolescents, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Environment Section Poster Session III
See more of: Environment