Proximity To Physical Activity Resources Found To Benefit Older Men

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Men's health
Article Date: 21 Feb 2010 - 0:00 PDT

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A new study points to the health benefits of living in neighborhoods with built-in physical activity resources.

Researchers conducted a study among community-dwelling men age 65 years or older from the Portland, Ore., metropolitan area. They sought to discover whether older men who live within one-eighth, one-quarter, or one-half mile of physical activity resources, including parks, trails and recreational facilities, are more likely than men who live farther from these resources to maintain or increase the amount of time they spend walking. Participants were enrolled from March 2000 through April 2002 at six U.S. clinical centers and were followed an average of 3.6 years to assess changes in time spent walking. The results of the study revealed a positive association among urban-dwelling older men between living within one-eighth mile of parks and one-half mile of trails and maintaining or increasing time spent walking, although the association was limited to men living in high-socioeconomic status neighborhoods.

The study's authors said, "Proximity to physical activity resources such as parks and trails may be important for maintaining moderate physical activity over time among older men residing in high-socioeconomic status neighborhoods. These findings support an eco-social model of physical activity promotion incorporating neighborhood-level resources and parks and trails."

Source
American Journal of Public Health

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