Neighborhood Walkability and Overweight/Obese Weight Status Among Latino Adults

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether aerobic physical activity mediates the association between neighborhood walkability and overweight/obesity weight status among Latino adults and whether the relative contribution of this pathway linking neighborhood walkability and aerobic activity varies by level of neighborhood social cohesion. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2015. Sample: NHIS adult Latino participants ≥18 years of age (n = 4303). Measures: Neighborhood walkability, neighborhood social cohesion, body mass index, and aerobic physical activity. Analysis: To determine whether physical activity mediates the relationship of walkability with overweight/obese weight status, a simple mediation analysis was conducted. Additionally, a moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test whether neighborhood social cohesion had a moderating effect on this relationship. Results: On average, the sample was 41 years old, 51% were male, 34% had less than a high school education, and 57% were foreign-born. Neighborhood walkability was statistically significantly related to overweight/obese weight status (standardized effect= −0.05, standard error [SE] = 0.02, P = .01). The interaction between walkability and neighborhood social cohesion on physical activity was not significant (standardized effect = 0.06, SE = 0.03, P = .09). Thus, the indirect effect of walkability on overweight/obesity weight status through physical activity was not shown to be modified by neighborhood social cohesion. Conclusion: Other neighborhood environment factors may play a role in the contribution of neighborhood walkability to overweight/obese weight status among Latinos.

Barriers and facilitators of physical activity among Latina immigrant and Mexican mothers living in the US and Mexico: A qualitative study

“…More qualitative information on neighborhood factors that promote or discourage walking among Latino immigrant families is needed to understand the changes in walking patterns after migration. While most Latino walkability literature is focused on obesity and neighborhood walkability [ 1 , 29 , 30 ], the authors identify socio-ecological patterns of walkability for physical activity.…”

Evaluation of the Role of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Simultaneously on the Income-Overweight/Obesity Relationship

“…However, the relationship between income and overweight/obesity is complex, and there are numerous factors, which may be involved in this relationship that were not available in the dataset. This includes measures of the neighborhood environment, such as walkability [ 32 ] and proximity to fast food [ 33 ]. Additionally, the cross-sectional design of the publicly available data prevents one from establishing the directionality of the study variables.…”

Associations of Transport and Recreational Walkability with Health and Life Satisfaction

“…(2) Difference between impacts of transport and recreational walking on life quality Walking and walkable environment promotion has been widely advocated to enhance public health [41][42][43]. Although various bene ts of total walking or exercise walking to life quality have been found [26,44,45], less is known about whether transport and recreational walking improve life quality.…”