Walkable communities are healthier for both mom and baby: Study

Pregnant women that live in walkable communities-with more sidewalks, parks and walking paths-not only engage in more physical activity but are also more likely to experience favorable birth outcomes, according to research from the University of New Hampshire. The study found that expectant mothers living in walkable counties tend to engage in more walking and exercise and have fewer issues with premature births, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and hypertension.

The study authors combined walkability measures created by the Environmental Protection Agency with detailed data on physical activity from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and pregnancy outcomes from the National Vital Statistics Natality Detail Files (NDF). They found that a 10-point increase in the walkability index—equivalent to transitioning from the "least walkable" to the "most walkable" category—is associated with a more than 70-minute increase in weekly exercise among pregnant women. This same change results in an 0.8 percentage point increase in the likelihood of a full-term birth, a 0.07-week extension in gestational age, a 27g increase in birth weight, and a 27% reduction in the likelihood of gestational diabetes and 16% reduction in hypertension.

The professors applied the conceptual and empirical tools of economics to see if there was a causal relationship between walkability and pregnancy outcomes. The goal is to provide evidence that can help shape policies and inform city and town managers about cost-effective interventions that may help improve the health outcomes of residents.

Reference: Karen Conway et al, Economics & Human Biology