TY - JOUR
T1 - Built Environment Attributes and Walking Patterns Among the Elderly Population in Bogotá
AU - Gómez, Luis F.
AU - Parra, Diana C.
AU - Buchner, David
AU - Brownson, Ross C.
AU - Sarmiento, Olga L.
AU - Pinzón, José D.
AU - Ardila, Mauricio
AU - Moreno, José
AU - Serrato, Mauricio
AU - Lobelo, Felipe
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from the Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, COLCIENCIAS . Many individuals contributed to this research, and their assistance is acknowledged. In particular, we thank Janeth Mosquera for the cultural adaptation of the self-report instruments.
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - Background: There is increasing evidence that the built environment has an influence on physical activity; however, little is known about this relationship in developing countries. Purpose: This study examined the associations between attributes of the built environment and walking patterns among the elderly. Methods: A multilevel cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007. Fifty neighborhoods were selected and 1966 participants aged ≥60 years were surveyed. Objective built environment measures were obtained in a buffer of 500 m using GIS. Environmental perceptions were assessed via questionnaire. Results: People who lived in areas with middle park area (4.53%-7.98% of land) were more likely to walk for at least 60 minutes during a usual week (prevalence OR [POR]=1.42, 95% CI=1.02, 1.98). Those who lived in areas with the highest connectivity index (1.81-1.99) were less likely to report walking for at least 60 minutes (POR=0.64, 95% CI=0.44, 0.93). Participants who reported feeling safe or very safe from traffic were more likely to report walking for at least 60 minutes (POR=1.50, 95% CI=1.11, 2.03). The presence of Ciclovía (recreational program) was marginally associated with having walked at least 150 minutes in a usual week (POR=1.29, 95% CI=0.97, 1.73). Conclusions: This study showed that certain built and perceived environment characteristics were associated with walking among older adults living in Bogotá. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the potential influence of the built environment on physical activity among the elderly population in the context of Latin American cities.
AB - Background: There is increasing evidence that the built environment has an influence on physical activity; however, little is known about this relationship in developing countries. Purpose: This study examined the associations between attributes of the built environment and walking patterns among the elderly. Methods: A multilevel cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007. Fifty neighborhoods were selected and 1966 participants aged ≥60 years were surveyed. Objective built environment measures were obtained in a buffer of 500 m using GIS. Environmental perceptions were assessed via questionnaire. Results: People who lived in areas with middle park area (4.53%-7.98% of land) were more likely to walk for at least 60 minutes during a usual week (prevalence OR [POR]=1.42, 95% CI=1.02, 1.98). Those who lived in areas with the highest connectivity index (1.81-1.99) were less likely to report walking for at least 60 minutes (POR=0.64, 95% CI=0.44, 0.93). Participants who reported feeling safe or very safe from traffic were more likely to report walking for at least 60 minutes (POR=1.50, 95% CI=1.11, 2.03). The presence of Ciclovía (recreational program) was marginally associated with having walked at least 150 minutes in a usual week (POR=1.29, 95% CI=0.97, 1.73). Conclusions: This study showed that certain built and perceived environment characteristics were associated with walking among older adults living in Bogotá. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the potential influence of the built environment on physical activity among the elderly population in the context of Latin American cities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952412413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.02.005
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.02.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 20494235
AN - SCOPUS:77952412413
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 38
SP - 592
EP - 599
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
IS - 6
ER -