How neighborhood features shape activity and weight across the lifespan
Prospective associations between neighborhood environments and physical activity and weight status across age groups: secondary analyses combining 5 NIH studies
Looking at whether neighborhood features like walkability help people of all ages stay more active and keep a healthier weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159763 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or someone like you took part in earlier NIH studies, researchers will combine those past records to learn how neighborhood features relate to activity and weight over time. They will use wearable activity data (accelerometers), address-based neighborhood measures, and two assessment points spaced 5–15 years apart. The team will compare children, adolescents, adults, and older adults to see whether neighborhood effects are similar or different across ages. No new participants are being enrolled — this work re-analyzes existing study data from multiple prior cohorts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People of any age who have repeated activity data and address information (children, teens, adults, and older adults) would be the relevant groups for this work.
Not a fit: People without long-term follow-up, address data, or wearable activity measurements are unlikely to be included or directly benefit from participation in the original datasets used here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify neighborhood features that support more physical activity and healthier weight at different life stages, helping guide community planning and public health actions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cross-sectional and some prospective studies have linked walkable neighborhoods to more activity and lower BMI, but long-term multi-age prospective analyses combining multiple cohorts are less common.
Where this research is happening
Scottsdale, United States
- Arizona State University-Tempe Campus — Scottsdale, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oyeyemi, Adewale — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Oyeyemi, Adewale
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.