Publications by authors named "Ellen W Stowe"

This study compared marginal and conditional modeling approaches for identifying individual, park and neighborhood park use predictors. Data were derived from the ParkIndex study, which occurred in 128 block groups in Brooklyn (New York), Seattle (Washington), Raleigh (North Carolina), and Greenville (South Carolina). Survey respondents (n = 320) indicated parks within one half-mile of their block group used within the past month.

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Background: Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and to promote equitable mobility options for all road users. Using a nationally representative survey, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of Vision Zero action plans or strategies in the USA.

Methods: Municipal officials were surveyed in 2021.

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Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition and a leading cause of chronic pain and disability. Because arthritis prevalence is higher among U.S.

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Arthritis includes approximately 100 conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a leading cause of activity limitations, disability, and chronic pain, and is associated with dispensed opioid prescriptions, substantially contributing to health care costs. Combined 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey data were analyzed to update national prevalence estimates of self-reported diagnosed arthritis.

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Introduction: Many Americans exceed the dietary recommendations for added sugars. Healthy People 2030 set a population target mean of 11.5% calories from added sugars for persons aged ≥2 years.

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This study investigated relationships between youth physical activity (PA) environments and income and non-Hispanic White population across the United States, stratified by US Census region and urban-rural designation. For all counties (n = 3142), publicly accessible data were used for sociodemographic indicators (ie, median household income and percent non-Hispanic White population) and a composite PA environment index (including exercise opportunities, violent crime incidence, walkability, and access to public schools). One-way analysis of variance was used to examine differences in PA environment index values according to income and non-Hispanic White population tertiles.

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Local environments are increasingly the focus of health behavior research and practice to reduce gaps between fruit/vegetable intake, physical activity (PA), and related guidelines. This study examined the congruency between youth food and PA environments and differences by region, rurality, and income across the United States. Food and PA environment data were obtained for all U.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the link between neighborhood park usage and levels of physical activity (PA) among adults in four US cities, focusing on how often parks are used and how many different parks are visited.
  • - Researchers surveyed 360 adults and found that 60% visited a neighborhood park in the last month, with a notable positive correlation between both the number of different parks visited and total park visits with reported PA levels.
  • - The findings suggest that increased frequency and diversity in park visits can boost physical activity among adults, highlighting the importance of providing safe and equitable access to these community areas for overall health benefits.
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Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC).

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Objective: This study examined the separate relationships between socio-economic disadvantage and the density of multiple types of food outlets, and relationships between socio-economic disadvantage and composite food environment indices.

Design: Cross-sectional data were analysed using geospatial kernel density techniques. Food outlet data included convenience stores, discount stores, fast-food and fast casual restaurants, and grocery stores.

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Background: Diverse environmental factors are associated with physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) among youth. However, no study has created a comprehensive obesogenic environment index for children that can be applied at a large geographic scale. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI) at the county level across the United States.

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This study examined spatial patterns of obesogenic environments for US counties. We mapped the geographic dispersion of food and physical activity (PA) environments, assessed spatial clustering, and identified food and PA environment differences across U.S.

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The relationship between park availability, physical activity, and positive health outcomes has been documented across the globe. However, studying how people access parks and why they use the parks is difficult due to a lack of consensus with respect to measurement approaches and assessment of park environments. Establishing a parsimonious method and tool for quantifying both park availability and park quality represents a major step that could advance park and physical activity research and practice.

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Attributes of the built environment, such as neighborhood walkability, have been linked to increased physical activity and reduced obesity risk. This relationship, however, has primarily been documented in adults; less is known about neighborhood walkability and youth obesity, as limited prior research has produced mixed findings. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between neighborhood walkability and youth obesity, including differences by urbanicity.

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Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine associations between objectively measured walkable urban design attributes with Japanese older adults' body mass index (BMI) and to test whether objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior mediated such associations.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

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Study Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates before and after Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation among women, and examine differences according to insurance status and other sociodemographic variables.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaire data. Participants (n = 4599) were from a random sample of the United States population.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the benefits of and influencing factors for neighborhood-based physical activity (PA), and elicit suggestions for increasing neighborhood-based PA among primarily Black residents living in lower income neighborhoods.

Design: Eight focus groups were conducted in low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods (n = 8) in Greenville, SC during Spring 2014. Using a semi-structured focus group guide with open-ended questions, residents were asked to describe benefits of PA, neighborhood factors associated with PA, and ways to increase PA within their neighborhoods.

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