Relationship between Objectively Measured Walkability and Exercise Walking among Adults with Diabetes

Authors

Mary P. Gallant, University at Albany, State University of New York
Akiko S. Hosler, University at Albany, State University of New York
Mary Riley-Jacome, University at Albany, State University of New York
Deepa T. Rajulu, University at Albany, State University of New York

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2014

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between objectively measured walkability and walking for exercise among adults with diabetes. Information regarding walking behavior of adults with diabetes residing in 3 Upstate New York counties was collected through an interview survey. Walkability measures were collected through an environmental audit of a sample of street segments. Overall walkability and 4 subgroup measures of walkability were aggregated at the ZIP level. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis. Study participants were 61.0% female, 56.7% non-Hispanic White, and 35.1% African-American, with a mean age of 62.0 years. 108 participants (51.9%) walked for exercise on community streets, and 62 (29.8%) met the expert-recommended level of walking for ≥150 minutes/week. After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, physical impairment, and social support for exercise, walking any minutes/week was associated with traffic safety (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15–1.65). Walking ≥150 minutes/week was associated with overall walkability of the community (2.65, 1.22, and 5.74), as well as sidewalks (1.73, 1.12–2.67), street amenity (2.04, 1.12–3.71), and traffic safety (1.92, 1.02–3.72). This study suggests that walkability of the community should be an integral part of the socioecologic approach to increase physical activity among adults with diabetes.

Comments

This is the Publisher’s PDF of the following article made available by Journal of Environmental and Public Health: Akiko S. Hosler, Mary P. Gallant, Mary Riley-Jacome, Deepa T. Rajulu, "Relationship between Objectively Measured Walkability and Exercise Walking among Adults with Diabetes", Journal of Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2014, Article ID 542123, 6 pages, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/542123

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Gallant, Mary P.; Hosler, Akiko S.; Riley-Jacome, Mary; and Rajulu, Deepa T., "Relationship between Objectively Measured Walkability and Exercise Walking among Adults with Diabetes" (2014). Health Policy, Management & Behavior Faculty Scholarship. 1.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/hpmb_fac_scholar/1