Walking for leisure among adults from three Brazilian cities and its association with perceived environment attributes and personal factors

• Main Authors: Malta Deborah C (Author), Hallal Pedro C (Author), Hino Adriano AF (Author), Ribeiro Isabela (Author), Parra Diana C (Author), Reis Rodrigo S (Author), Gomes Grace AO (Author), Brownson Ross C (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2011-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-111; 1479-5868
• Keywords: Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases; RC620-627; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 111 (2011)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Walking is a popular form of physical activity and a convenient option to prevent chronic diseases. However, most of the evidence on this topic derives from high-income countries and little is known about walking patterns and its association with environmental features in low and middle income countries.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To describe walking for leisure and to identify its association with perceived environment and personal factors among residents of three state capitals from different regions of Brazil</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross sectional phone surveys were conducted in Recife, Curitiba and Vitória (n = 6,166) in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. Physical activity was measured using the leisure-time sections of the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Perceived environment characteristics were assessed using a modified version of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). Multivariable analysis tested the associations between walking for leisure and perceived environment characteristics across the cities using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportions of respondents meeting physical activity recommendations through walking for leisure were 9.6%, 16.0% and 8.8% in Curitiba, Recife and Vitoria, respectively. Engaging in 150 min/wk or more of walking for leisure was significantly associated with younger age, higher education, better self-rated health and with lack of sidewalks on nearby streets. We did not find positive associations between walking for leisure and traffic conditions and safety related to cycling/walking during the day or night.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most environmental features were not associated with walking for leisure. Personal factors were stronger predictors of walking for leisure as compared with perceived environment factors.</p>