Xuemei Zhu1, Chia-Yuan Yu2, Chanam Lee3, Zhipeng Lu4, George Mann5. 1. Department of Architecture, Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. Electronic address: xzhu@arch.tamu.edu. 2. Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. Electronic address: yu17891@neo.tamu.edu. 3. Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. Electronic address: clee@arch.tamu.edu. 4. Department of Architecture, Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. Electronic address: zlu@arch.tamu.edu. 5. Department of Architecture, Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. Electronic address: manngj1@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study is to examine changes in residents' physical activities, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion after they moved to a walkable community in Austin, Texas. METHODS: Retrospective surveys (N=449) were administered in 2013-2014 to collect pre- and post-move data about the outcome variables and relevant personal, social, and physical environmental factors. Walkability of each resident's pre-move community was measured using the Walk Score. T tests were used to examine the pre-post move differences in the outcomes in the whole sample and across sub-groups with different physical activity levels, neighborhood conditions, and neighborhood preferences before the move. RESULTS: After the move, total physical activity increased significantly in the whole sample and all sub-groups except those who were previously sufficiently active; lived in communities with high walkability, social interactions, or neighborhood cohesion; or had moderate preference for walkable neighborhoods. Walking in the community increased in the whole sample and all subgroups except those who were previously sufficiently active, moved from high-walkability communities, or had little to no preference for walkable neighborhoods. Social interactions and neighborhood cohesion increased significantly after the move in the whole sample and all sub-groups. CONCLUSION: This study explored potential health benefits of a walkable community in promoting physically and socially active lifestyles, especially for populations at higher risk of obesity. The initial result is promising, suggesting the need for more work to further examine the relationships between health and community design using pre-post assessments.
OBJECTIVE: This study is to examine changes in residents' physical activities, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion after they moved to a walkable community in Austin, Texas. METHODS: Retrospective surveys (N=449) were administered in 2013-2014 to collect pre- and post-move data about the outcome variables and relevant personal, social, and physical environmental factors. Walkability of each resident's pre-move community was measured using the Walk Score. T tests were used to examine the pre-post move differences in the outcomes in the whole sample and across sub-groups with different physical activity levels, neighborhood conditions, and neighborhood preferences before the move. RESULTS: After the move, total physical activity increased significantly in the whole sample and all sub-groups except those who were previously sufficiently active; lived in communities with high walkability, social interactions, or neighborhood cohesion; or had moderate preference for walkable neighborhoods. Walking in the community increased in the whole sample and all subgroups except those who were previously sufficiently active, moved from high-walkability communities, or had little to no preference for walkable neighborhoods. Social interactions and neighborhood cohesion increased significantly after the move in the whole sample and all sub-groups. CONCLUSION: This study explored potential health benefits of a walkable community in promoting physically and socially active lifestyles, especially for populations at higher risk of obesity. The initial result is promising, suggesting the need for more work to further examine the relationships between health and community design using pre-post assessments.
Authors: Sara E Benjamin Neelon; Rebecca J Namenek Brouwer; Truls Østbye; Kelly R Evenson; Brian Neelon; Annie Martinie; Gary Bennett Journal: Child Obes Date: 2015-05-04 Impact factor: 2.992
Authors: Liza S Rovniak; Lan Kong; Melbourne F Hovell; Ding Ding; James F Sallis; Chester A Ray; Jennifer L Kraschnewski; Stephen A Matthews; Elizabeth Kiser; Vernon M Chinchilli; Daniel R George; Christopher N Sciamanna Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2016-12
Authors: Casper J P Zhang; Anthony Barnett; Janice M Johnston; Poh-Chin Lai; Ruby S Y Lee; Cindy H P Sit; Ester Cerin Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-10 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Stephen J Mooney; Jennifer F Bobb; Philip M Hurvitz; Jane Anau; Mary Kay Theis; Adam Drewnowski; Anju Aggarwal; Shilpi Gupta; Dori E Rosenberg; Andrea J Cook; Xiao Shi; Paula Lozano; Anne Vernez Moudon; David Arterburn Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2020-05-19