Public Health

Predicting Urban Design Effects on Physical Activity and Public Health: A Case Study

Gibson, JMD
Rodriguez, D
Dennerlein, T
Mead, J
Hasch, T
Meacci, G
Levin, S
2015

With increasing global concerns about obesity and related health effects, tools to predict how urban form affects population physical activity and health are needed. However, such tools have not been well established. This article develops a computer simulation model for forecasting the health effects of urban features that promote walking. The article demonstrates the model using a proposed small-area plan for a neighborhood of 10,400 residents in Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the fastest-growing and most sprawling U.S. cities. The simulation model predicts that the plan would...

The Added Benefit of Bicycle Commuting on the Regular Amount of Physical Activity Performed

Donaire-Gonzalez, D
Nazelle, A De
Cole-Hunter, T
Curto, A
Rodriguez, D
Mendez, M
Garcia-Aymerich, J
Basagana, X
Ambros, A
Jerrett, M
Nieuwenhuijsen, MJ
2015
Physical inactivity is a leading cause of death and disability globally. Active transportation such as bicycling may increase physical activity levels. It is currently...

The Active Living Research 2015 Conference: The Science of Policy Implementation

Rodriguez, D
Lounsbery, MAF
Sallis, J
2016

The 2015 Active Living Research (ALR) Conference highlighted the theme of policy implementation because many policies are recommended to enhance active living, and policy adoption is becoming more common, but policies cannot be effective until they are implemented. A better understanding of active living policy implementation will assist researchers and practitioners in improving their policy recommendations and implementation practice.

Obtaining Longitudinal Built Environment Data Retrospectively Across 25 years in Four US Cities

Hirsch, J
Meyer, K
Peterson, M
Rodriguez, D
Song, Y
Peng, K
Huh, J
Gordon-Larsen, P
2016

Neighborhood transportation infrastructure and public recreational facilities are theorized to improve the activity, weight, and cardiometabolic profiles of individuals living in close proximity to these resources. However, owing to data limitations, there has not been adequate study of the influence of timing and placement of new infrastructure on health over time. Methods: This protocol details methods of the four cities study to perform retrospective field audits in order to capitalize on existing longitudinal health data from the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA...

Walkability and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Braun, L
Rodriguez, D
Evenson, K
Hirsch, J
Moore, K
Roux, AV Diez
2016
We used data from 3227 older adults in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (2004–2012) to explore cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between walkability and cardiometabolic risk factors. In cross-sectional analyses, linear regression was used to estimate associations of Street Smart Walk Score® with glucose, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference, while logistic regression was used to estimate associations with odds of metabolic syndrome. Econometric fixed effects models were used to estimate longitudinal...

Short-Term Planning and Policy Interventions to Promote Cycling in Urban Centers: Findings from a Commute Mode Choice Analysis in Barcelona, Spain

Braun, L
Rodriguez, D
Cole-Hunter, T
Ambros, A
Donaire-Gonzalez, D
Jerrett, M
Mendez, M
Nieuwenhuijsen, MJ
Nazelle, A De
2026
Cycling for transportation has become an increasingly important component of strategies to address public health, climate change, and air quality concerns in urban centers. Within this context, planners and policy makers would benefit from an improved understanding of available interventions and their relative effectiveness for cycling promotion. We examined predictors of bicycle commuting that are relevant to planning and policy intervention, particularly those amenable to short- and medium-term action. We estimated a travel mode choice model using data from a...

Private and Public Modes of Bicycle Commuting: A Perspective on Attitude and Perception

Tirado, A
Nazelle, A De
González, D
Cole-Hunter, T
Garcia-Aymerich, J
Martinez, D
Anaya, E
Rodriguez, D
Jerrett, M
Nieuwenhuijsen, MJ
2016

Public bicycle-sharing initiatives can act as health enhancement strategies among urban populations. The aim of the study was to determine which attitudes and perceptions of behavioural control toward cycling and a bicycle-sharing system distinguish commuters with a different adherence to bicycle commuting.  Methods: The recruitment process was conducted in 40 random points in Barcelona from 2011 to 2012. Subjects completed a telephone-based questionnaire including 27 attitude and perception statements. Based on their most common one-way commute trip and...

Air Pollution, Social Disadvantage, and Walking in Six United States Cities: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Chen, YH
Adar, S
Marshall, J
Hirsch, J
Rodriguez, D
Evenson, K
Sampson, P
Magzamen, S
Kaufman, J
Roux, A
2016
Physical activity may be influenced by walking opportunities, which can differ substantially across neighborhoods. Air pollution similarly varies by location. It remains unclear whether more walking occurs in highly polluted neighborhoods and whether socially disadvantaged populations are less likely to experience walkable neighborhoods with clean air. We studied the spatial distributions and associations of neighborhood level air pollution, walkability, and social factors with self-reported walking. Overall walking was reported between 2010-2012 by 3,661 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis...

How Much are Built Environments Changing, and Where?: Patterns of Change by Neighborhood Sociodemographic Characteristics Across Seven US Metropolitan Areas

Hirsch, J
Grengs
Schulz
Adar
Rodriguez
Brines
Roux, AV Diez
2016

Investments in neighborhood built environments could increase physical activity and overall health. Disproportionate distribution of these changes in advantaged neighborhoods could inflate ...

Changes in Walking, Body Mass Index, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Following Residential Relocation: Longitudinal Results From the CARDIA Study

Braun, L
Rodriguez, DA
Song, Y
Meyer, KA
Lewis, CE
Reis, JP
Gordon-Larsen, P
2016
While many studies have found the built environment to be associated with walking, most have used cross-sectional research designs and few have examined more distal cardiometabolic outcomes. This study contributes longitudinal evidence based on changes in walking, body mass index (BMI), and cardiometabolic risk following residential relocation. We examined 1079 participants in the...