<p class="first" id="P1">Neighborhood conditions may have an important impact on physical
activity and sedentary
behaviors in the older population. Most previous studies in this area are cross-sectional
and report mixed findings regarding the effects of neighborhood environment on different
types of physical activity. Moreover, little is known about the prospective relationship
between neighborhood environment and sedentary behaviors. Our analysis included 136,526
participants from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (age 51–70). Neighborhood socioeconomic
deprivation was measured with an index based on census variables and developed using
principal component analysis. Physical activity and sedentary behaviors were measured
both at baseline (1995–1996) and follow-up (2004–2006). Multiple regression analyses
were conducted to examine the prospective relationship between neighborhood deprivation
and exercise, non-exercise physical activity, and sedentary behaviors, adjusting for
baseline physical activity and sedentary behaviors as well as potential confounders.
We found that more severe neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation was prospectively
associated with reduced time for exercise (β
<sub>Q5</sub> vs
<sub>Q1</sub> (95% confidence interval), hour, −0.85 (−0.95, −0.75)) but increased
time spent in
non-exercise physical activities (1.16 (0.97, 1.34)), such as household activities,
outdoor chores, and walking for transportation. Moreover, people from more deprived
neighborhoods were also more likely to engage in prolonged (≥5 h/day) TV viewing (Odds
ratio
<sub>Q5</sub> vs
<sub>Q1</sub> (95% confidence interval), 1.21 (1.15, 1.27)). In conclusion, neighborhood
socioeconomic
deprivation is associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior in the older
population. These associations may differ for different types of physical activities.
</p>