Cross-Sectional Associations of Neighborhood Walkability With Baseline Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Among U.S. South Asian Adults in the SAHELI Study.
Neela D Thangada, Nicola Lancki, Stephen J Mooney et al.
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In 30 seconds
This post hoc cross-sectional analysis examined whether neighborhood walkability was associated with baseline activity and sedentary time among 432 U.S. South Asian adults in the SAHELI study, who had cardiovascular disease risk factors and were randomized to an intervention or control. Accelerometer-measured activity and neighborhood features were assessed at baseline. In adjusted models, the EPA Walkability Index and sidewalk prevalence were associated with higher total and light physical activity and lower sedentary time; no walkability measure was associated with moderate-to-vigorous activity. The abstract reports no effect estimates for these associations.
Key findings
- Among 432 participants, mean total physical activity was 9,853 ± 5,328 steps per day.
- The EPA Walkability Index and sidewalks were associated with higher total and light physical activity and lower sedentary time.
- Crosswalk prevalence was associated with total physical activity, while parks were not associated with total activity, light activity, or sedentary time.
- No neighborhood walkability measure was associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that neighborhood features may relate to everyday movement and sedentary time among South Asian adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors, even when they are not associated with moderate-to-vigorous activity. This distinction may inform the design of prevention interventions that consider both opportunities for routine activity and ways to reduce sedentary time, while recognizing that the study identifies associations rather than effects.
What to keep in mind
The analysis was cross-sectional and based on baseline data, so it cannot establish that walkability caused differences in activity or sedentary time. Participants were from the Chicago metropolitan area and had cardiovascular disease risk factors, limiting generalizability.