Changes in neighbourhood walkability and body mass index: An analysis of residential mobility from a longitudinal multilevel study in Brisbane, Australia

Jerome N Rachele; Suzanne Mavoa; Takemi Sugiyama; Anne Kavanagh; Billie Giles-Corti; Wendy J Brown; Shigeru Inoue; Shiho Amagasa; Gavin Turrell

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103245

Changes in neighbourhood walkability and body mass index: An analysis of residential mobility from a longitudinal multilevel study in Brisbane, Australia

Health Place. 2024 May:87:103245. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103245. Epub 2024 Apr 17.

Authors

Jerome N Rachele¹, Suzanne Mavoa², Takemi Sugiyama³, Anne Kavanagh⁴, Billie Giles-Corti⁵, Wendy J Brown⁶, Shigeru Inoue⁷, Shiho Amagasa⁸, Gavin Turrell⁹

Affiliations

¹ College of Sport, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Studies, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38631216
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103245

Abstract

This study examined associations between changes in neighbourhood walkability and body mass index (BMI) among 1041 residents who relocated within Brisbane, Australia between 2007 and 2016 over five waves of the HABITAT study. Measures included spatially-derived neighbourhood walkability (dwelling density, street connectivity, and land use mix) and self-reported height and weight. No associations were found between any neighbourhood walkability characteristics and BMI. Examining these associations over the life course, and the impact of residential relocation in the younger years, remains a priority for future research.

Keywords: Built environment; Longitudinal; Multilevel; Natural experiment; Obesity; Urban design; Walkability.

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude
Body Height
Body Mass Index*
Body Weight
Built Environment* / statistics & numerical data
Female
Housing* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity / epidemiology
Obesity / etiology
Population Density
Population Dynamics
Queensland
Self Report
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Walking* / physiology