A walk (or cycle) to the park: active transit to neighborhood amenities, the CARDIA study.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Building on known associations between active commuting and reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, this study examines active transit to neighborhood amenities and differences between walking and cycling for transportation. METHODS: Year-20 data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (3549 black and white adults aged 38-50 years in 2005-2006) were analyzed in 2008-2009. Sociodemographic correlates of transportation mode (car-only, walk-only, any cycling, other) to neighborhood amenities were examined in multivariable multinomial logistic models. Gender-stratified multivariable linear or multinomial regression models compared CVD risk factors across transit modes. RESULTS: Active transit was most common to parks and public transit stops; walking was more common than cycling. Among those who used each amenity, active transit (walk-only and any cycling versus car-only transit) was more common in men and those with no live-in partner and less than full-time employment (significant ORs [95% CI] ranging from 1.56 [1.08, 2.27] to 4.54 [1.70, 12.14]), and less common in those with children. Active transit to any neighborhood amenity was associated with more favorable BMI, waist circumference, and fitness (largest coefficient [95% CI] -1.68 [-2.81, -0.55] for BMI, -3.41 [-5.71, -1.11] for waist circumference [cm], and 36.65 [17.99, 55.31] for treadmill test duration [seconds]). Only cycling was associated with lower lifetime CVD risk classification. CONCLUSIONS: Active transit to neighborhood amenities was related to sociodemographics and CVD risk factors. Variation in health-related benefits by active transit mode, if validated in prospective studies, may have implications for transportation planning and research.

Author information

Author/s: Boone-Heinonen, Janne (J); Jacobs, David R (DR); Sidney, Stephen (S); Sternfeld, Barbara (B); Lewis, Cora E (CE); Gordon-Larsen, Penny (P);

Affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Grants: DK56350 (Agency:NIDDK NIH HHS) ; K01 HD044263 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-05187 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-48047 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-48048 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-48049 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-48050 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01-HC-95095 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; R01 CA109831 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS) ; R01 CA12115 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS) ; R01-HL078972 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: American journal of preventive medicine (Am J Prev Med), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 37 (issue 4) : pp 285-92

Dates: Created 2009/09/21; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19765499, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

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