Cross-Sectional Study of Location-Based Built Environments, Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Body Mass Index in Adult Twins

Glen E. Duncan (), Feiyang Sun, Ally R. Avery, Philip M. Hurvitz, Anne Vernez Moudon, Siny Tsang and Bethany D. Williams
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Glen E. Duncan: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
Feiyang Sun: Department of Urban Design and Planning, College of Built Environments, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Ally R. Avery: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
Philip M. Hurvitz: Department of Urban Design and Planning, College of Built Environments, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Anne Vernez Moudon: Department of Urban Design and Planning, College of Built Environments, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Siny Tsang: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
Bethany D. Williams: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Spokane, WA 99202, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: We examined relationships between walkability and health behaviors between and within identical twin pairs, considering both home (neighborhood) walkability and each twin’s measured activity space. Continuous activity and location data (via accelerometry and GPS) were obtained in 79 pairs over 2 weeks. Walkability was estimated using Walk Score ® (WS); home WS refers to neighborhood walkability, and GPS WS refers to the mean of individual WSs matched to every GPS point collected by each participant. GPS WS was assessed within (WHN) and out of the neighborhood (OHN), using 1-mile Euclidean (air1mi) and network (net1mi) buffers. Outcomes included walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) bouts, dietary energy density (DED), and BMI. Home WS was associated with WHN GPS WS ( b = 0.71, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001 for air1mi; b = 0.79, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001 for net1mi), and OHN GPS WS ( b = 0.18, SE = 0.04, p < 0.001 for air1mi; b = 0.22, SE = 0.04, p < 0.001 for net1mi). Quasi-causal relationships (within-twin) were observed for home and GPS WS with walking ( ps < 0.01), but not MVPA, DED, or BMI. Results support previous literature that neighborhood walkability has a positive influence on walking.

Keywords: GPS; lifestyle behaviors; spatial measurement; walkability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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