Wang, Narcisse, and McElfish report that as the walkability of a neighborhood increases, the health of the people who live there is likely to be affected. The team shares that “Data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. . . . Compared with those in low-walkability neighborhoods, participants in high-walkability neighborhoods had increased odds of sufficient PA [physical activity] . . . and decreased obesity odds. . . . The association between walkability and BMI was modified by race and ethnicity. . . . Among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults, BMI decreased with increasing walkability; among American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial/other adults, BMI increased with increasing walkability.”
Monica Wang, Marie-Rachelle Narcisse, and Pearl McElfish. 2023. “Higher Walkability Associated with Increased Physical Activity and Reduced Obesity Among United States Adults.” Obesity, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 553-564, https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23634