Walk Score^® and Its Associations with Older Adults’ Health Behaviors and Outcomes

• Main Authors: Yung Liao, Chien-Yu Lin, Ting-Fu Lai, Yen-Ju Chen, Bohyeon Kim, Jong-Hwan Park
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: walkability; neighborhood; older adult; chronic diseases
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/622

This study aimed to investigate the associations between Walk Score^® and lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in older Taiwanese adults. A nationwide survey was conducted through telephone-based interviews with older adults (65 years and older) in Taiwan. Data on Walk Score^®, lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, healthy eating behavior, alcohol use, and smoking status), health outcomes (overweight/obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), and personal characteristics were obtained from 1052 respondents. A binary logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders was employed. None of the Walk Score^® categories were related to the recommended levels of total physical activity. The categories “very walkable„ and “walker’s paradise„ were positively related to total sedentary time and TV viewing among older adults. No significant associations were found between Walk Score^® and other lifestyle health behaviors or health outcomes. While Walk Score^® was not associated with recommended levels of physical activity, it was positively related to prolonged sedentary time in the context of a non-Western country. The different associations between the walk score and health lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in different contexts should be noted.