Higher walkability associated with increased physical activity and reduced obesity among United States adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations among perceived neighborhood walkability, physical activity (PA), and obesity among United States adults. METHODS: Data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Walkability was assessed using a summative scale and was categorized as low, medium, or high. PA was categorized as insufficient (0-149 min/wk) or sufficient (150+ min/wk). Multivariable regressions estimated an association between obesity and BMI and PA/walkability. Mediation analysis was used to partition contribution of PA as a mediator. Effect modification by race and ethnicity in the association between walkability and BMI was explored. RESULTS: The sample included N = 31,568 adults. Compared with those in low-walkability neighborhoods, participants in high-walkability neighborhoods had increased odds of sufficient PA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.30-1.69) and decreased obesity odds (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66-0.87). PA partially mediated the association between walkability and BMI (23.4%; 95% CI: 14.6%-62.7%). The association between walkability and BMI was modified by race and ethnicity (F[5,567]  = 2.75; p = 0.018). Among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults, BMI decreased with increasing walkability; among American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial/other adults, BMI increased with increasing walkability. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of investing in the built environment to improve perceptions of walkability and promote PA and healthy weight, as well as developing interventions to target racial and ethnic disparities in these outcomes.

Factors associated with telehealth use among adults in the United States: Findings from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care shifted to virtual interactions with health professionals. The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of telehealth use in a nationally representative sample of the United States adult population. METHODS: The study used data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey of 17,582 respondents aged ≥18. Andersen's model of health services utilization was employed to examine predisposing, enabling, and needs factors associated with past-year telehealth use. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine statistical associations. RESULTS: 32.5% of adults (n = 6402; mean age 51.6, SE = 0.4) reported telehealth use. Predisposing factors: Women and married/partnered adults and those with higher levels of education had greater odds of using telehealth. Adults living in Midwest and South and adults living in medium-small and non-metropolitan areas had decreased odds of using telehealth. Enabling factors: Income and having a usual source of care were positively associated with telehealth use. A negative association was found for those with no insurance and telehealth use, whereas a positive association was found for military insurance. Needs factors: Odds of using telehealth were increased for adults who had well-visits and ER visits in the past 12 months. Mental health services quadrupled the odds of telehealth use. Odds of using telehealth increased with each additional chronic disease, including COVID-19. CONCLUSION: There are disparities in telehealth use according to sex, education, rurality, access to care, and health needs. Tackling these disparities is pivotal to ensure barriers to telehealth use are not exacerbated post-pandemic.