Introduction
Neighborhood environments may play a role in the rising prevalence of obesity among
older adults. However, research on built environmental correlates of obesity in this
age group is limited. The current study aimed to explore associations of Walk Score,
a validated measure of neighborhood walkability, with BMI and waist circumference
in a large, diverse sample of older women.
Methods
This study linked cross-sectional data on 6,526 older postmenopausal women from the
Women’s Health Initiative Long Life Study (2012–2013) to Walk Scores for each participant’s
address (collected in 2012). Linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate
associations of BMI and waist circumference with continuous and categorical Walk Score
measures. Secondary analyses examined whether these relationships could be explained
by walking expenditure or total physical activity. All analyses were conducted in
2015.
Results
Higher Walk Score was not associated with BMI or overall obesity after adjustment
for sociodemographic, medical, and lifestyle factors. However, participants in highly
walkable areas had significantly lower odds of abdominal obesity (waist circumference
>88 cm) as compared with those in less walkable locations. Observed associations between
walkability and adiposity were partly explained by walking expenditure.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that neighborhood walkability is linked to abdominal adiposity, as
measured by waist circumference, among older women and provide support for future
longitudinal research on associations between Walk Score and adiposity in this population.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 17, 2016
Identification
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© 2016 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
