Availability of Recreational Resources and Physical Activity in Adults
Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD,
Kelly R. Evenson, PhD,
Aileen P. McGinn, PhD,
Daniel G. Brown, PhD,
Latetia Moore, MSPH,
Shannon Brines, MEng and
David R. Jacobs, Jr, PhD
Ana V. Diez Roux and Latetia Moore are with the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Kelly R. Evenson and Aileen P. McGinn are with the Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Daniel G. Brown and Shannon Brines are with the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. David R. Jacobs, Jr, is with the Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, 1214 South University, 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (e-mail: adiezrou{at}umich.edu).
Objectives. Using data from a large cohort of adults aged 45to 84 years-old, we investigated whether availability of recreationalresources is related to physical activity levels.
Methods. Data from a multiethnic sample of 2723 adult residentsof New York City, NY; Baltimore, Md; and Forsyth County, NC,were linked to data on locations of recreational resources.We measured the availability (density) of resources within 0.5(0.8 km), 1, 2, and 5 miles of each participants residenceand used binomial regression to investigate associations ofdensity with physical activity.
Results. After adjustment for potential confounders, individualsin the tertile of participants residing in areas with the highestdensity of resources were more likely to report physical activityduring a typical week than were individuals in the lowest tertile.Associations between availability of recreational resourcesand physical activity levels were not present for the smallestarea assessed (0.5 miles) but were present for areas rangingfrom 1 to 5 miles. These associations were slightly strongeramong minority and low-income residents.
Conclusions. Availability of resources may be 1 of several environmentalfactors that influence individuals physical activitybehaviors.
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