How does the walkability of a neighborhood influence residents’ decisions about the amount of time they spend getting physical activity and where they get it? These are two of the questions University of North Carolina researchers are trying to answer by studying residents in 3 different types of neighborhoods in Montgomery County, Maryland. The researchers are using rich, existing data sources and direct observation to classify neighborhoods and develop measures of the built environment that include density, land-use mix, street connectivity, and other features. Eighty to ninety study participants in 6 diverse neighborhoods are being given accelerometers, are being interviewed, and are filling out expanded activity diaries, so researchers can see how much time they spend being physically active, and where they are active. The study will also ask the question: do highly active people choose to live in places where physical activity is easier? Researchers will attempt to answer this question by asking participants about their attitudes about exercise and the built environment. A press release and project web site are available for this project. The March 2007 edition of Planning Magazine included the article The Healthy Choice, supported from this ALR grant, which highlights the planning and public health connection in Montgomery County, MD.
