Walk Score, perceptions of neighborhood walkability, and physical activity

Background: Physical activity levels appears to be influenced by built environment. Walk Score is a free and easily available web-based tool for measuring neighborhood walkability that has recently been shown to correlate with other objective and subjective measures of the built environment. However, it is unclear how Walk Score relates to physical activity levels. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between Walk Score, perceived walkability, and physical activity. Methods: The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) is an annual survey that collects health related data on a representative sample of Wisconsin residents (21-74 years old). 1,572 participants have been recruited between 2008 and 2010. Data collection includes questions on neighborhood characteristics and physical activity levels as well as anthropometry and physical exam. Walk Scores were calculated for each participant's home address. Results: Walk Score was positively associated with rates of walking or biking for transportation as well as individuals' perception of the quality of their community as a place to be physically active. Among non-Hispanic whites, Walk Score was also associated with higher overall physical activity levels, but this relationship was not seen in non-white or Hispanic subjects. Discussion: Increased neighborhood walkability may provide greater opportunity for active commuting. Increased neighborhood resources may also influence overall physical activity in some populations. The reasons for the discrepancies in the relationship between walkability and physical activity amongst different racial or ethnic groups need to be further explored.