Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins
Objectives Physical activity is a cornerstone of chronic disease prevention and treatment, yet most US adults do not perform levels recommended for health. The neighborhood–built environment (BE) may support or hinder physical activity levels. This study investigated whether identical twins who resi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e064808.full |
| _version_ | 1828094406892191744 |
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| author | Glen E Duncan Anne Vernez-Moudon Siny Tsang Ally A Avery Philip Hurvitz |
| author_facet | Glen E Duncan Anne Vernez-Moudon Siny Tsang Ally A Avery Philip Hurvitz |
| author_sort | Glen E Duncan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Physical activity is a cornerstone of chronic disease prevention and treatment, yet most US adults do not perform levels recommended for health. The neighborhood–built environment (BE) may support or hinder physical activity levels. This study investigated whether identical twins who reside in more walkable BEs have greater activity levels than twins who reside in less walkable BEs (between-twin analysis), and whether associations remain significant when controlling for genetic and shared environmental factors (within-twin analysis).Design A cross-sectional study.Setting The Puget Sound region around Seattle, Washington, USA.Participants The sample consisted of 112 identical twin pairs who completed an in-person assessment and 2-week at-home measurement protocol using a global positioning system (GPS)monitor and accelerometer.Exposure The walkability of each participants’ place of residence was calculated using three BE dimensions (intersection density, population density and destination accessibility). For each variable, z scores were calculated and summed to produce the final walkability score.Outcomes Objectively measured bouts of walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), expressed as minutes per week.Results Walkability was associated with walking bouts (but not MVPA) within the neighbourhood, both between (b=0.58, SE=0.13, p<0.001) and within pairs (b=0.61, SE=0.18, p=0.001). For a pair with a 2-unit difference in walkability, the twin in a more walkable neighbourhood is likely to walk approximately 16 min per week more than the co-twin who lives in a less walkable neighbourhood.Conclusions This study provides robust evidence of an association between walkability and objective walking bouts. Improvements to the neighbourhood BE could potentially lead to increased activity levels in communities throughout the USA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:58:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dcba9ae7802042ac8b0407fb8bc38cc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:58:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-dcba9ae7802042ac8b0407fb8bc38cc32022-12-22T04:38:57ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-11-01121110.1136/bmjopen-2022-064808Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twinsGlen E Duncan0Anne Vernez-Moudon1Siny Tsang2Ally A Avery3Philip Hurvitz46 Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Washington State University—Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA3College of Built Environments, Department of Urban Design and Planning, Urban Form Lab, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA†Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NYDepartment of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USAUrban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USAObjectives Physical activity is a cornerstone of chronic disease prevention and treatment, yet most US adults do not perform levels recommended for health. The neighborhood–built environment (BE) may support or hinder physical activity levels. This study investigated whether identical twins who reside in more walkable BEs have greater activity levels than twins who reside in less walkable BEs (between-twin analysis), and whether associations remain significant when controlling for genetic and shared environmental factors (within-twin analysis).Design A cross-sectional study.Setting The Puget Sound region around Seattle, Washington, USA.Participants The sample consisted of 112 identical twin pairs who completed an in-person assessment and 2-week at-home measurement protocol using a global positioning system (GPS)monitor and accelerometer.Exposure The walkability of each participants’ place of residence was calculated using three BE dimensions (intersection density, population density and destination accessibility). For each variable, z scores were calculated and summed to produce the final walkability score.Outcomes Objectively measured bouts of walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), expressed as minutes per week.Results Walkability was associated with walking bouts (but not MVPA) within the neighbourhood, both between (b=0.58, SE=0.13, p<0.001) and within pairs (b=0.61, SE=0.18, p=0.001). For a pair with a 2-unit difference in walkability, the twin in a more walkable neighbourhood is likely to walk approximately 16 min per week more than the co-twin who lives in a less walkable neighbourhood.Conclusions This study provides robust evidence of an association between walkability and objective walking bouts. Improvements to the neighbourhood BE could potentially lead to increased activity levels in communities throughout the USA.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e064808.full |
| spellingShingle | Glen E Duncan Anne Vernez-Moudon Siny Tsang Ally A Avery Philip Hurvitz Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins BMJ Open |
| title | Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| title_full | Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| title_fullStr | Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| title_short | Cross-sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| title_sort | cross sectional associations between neighbourhood walkability and objective physical activity levels in identical twins |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e064808.full |
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