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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2006.087734v1 97/3/493    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roux, A. V. D. Articles by Jacobs, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roux, A. V. D. Articles by Jacobs, D. R., Jr Related Collections Cardiovascular Disease Other Chronic Disease Community Health Epidemiology Exercise/Physical Activity Other Environment

Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, Kelly R. Evenson, PhD, Aileen P. McGinn, PhD, Daniel G. Brown, PhD, Latetia Moore, MSPH, Shannon Brines, MEng and David R. Jacobs, Jr, PhD

Ana V. Diez Roux and Latetia Moore are with the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Kelly R. Evenson and Aileen P. McGinn are with the Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Daniel G. Brown and Shannon Brines are with the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. David R. Jacobs, Jr, is with the Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, 1214 South University, 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (e-mail: adiezrou{at}umich.edu).

Objectives. Using data from a large cohort of adults aged 45 to 84 years-old, we investigated whether availability of recreational resources is related to physical activity levels.

Methods. Data from a multiethnic sample of 2723 adult residents of New York City, NY; Baltimore, Md; and Forsyth County, NC, were linked to data on locations of recreational resources. We measured the availability (density) of resources within 0.5 (0.8 km), 1, 2, and 5 miles of each participant’s residence and used binomial regression to investigate associations of density with physical activity.

Results. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals in the tertile of participants residing in areas with the highest density of resources were more likely to report physical activity during a typical week than were individuals in the lowest tertile. Associations between availability of recreational resources and physical activity levels were not present for the smallest area assessed (0.5 miles) but were present for areas ranging from 1 to 5 miles. These associations were slightly stronger among minority and low-income residents.

Conclusions. Availability of resources may be 1 of several environmental factors that influence individuals’ physical activity behaviors.

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