Abstract:
The literature suggests that individuals
will be healthier if they live in Active
Community Environments that promote
exercise and activity. Two key elements
of such environments are walkability and
safety. Examining data from the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
III, 1988–1994 and using a multilevel
analysis, we found that individuals who
live in counties that are more walkable
and have lower crime rates tended to
walk more and to have lower body mass
indices (BMIs) than people in less walkable
and more crime-prone areas, even
after controlling for a variety of individual
variables related to health. Among
lifelong residents of an area, lesser walkability
and more crime were also associated
with respondents reporting weightrelated
chronic illness and lower ratings
of their own health. The effect of high
crime rates was substantially stronger for
women than for men, and taking this
interaction into account eliminated
gender differences in walking, BMI,
weight-related chronic conditions, and
self-reported poor health. The results suggest
that to promote activity and health,
planners should consider community
walkability, crime prevention, and safety.