Abstract
BackgroundWalking 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.ObjectivesTo 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 BrazilMethodsCross 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionMost environmental features were not associated with walking for leisure. Personal factors were stronger predictors of walking for leisure as compared with perceived environment factors.
Highlights
Regular practice of physical activity is associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases and mortality [1,2,3]
Most environmental features were not associated with walking for leisure
59.7% were overweight by Body mass index (BMI) (25-30 kg·m2), and the proportion of respondents that met physical activity recommendations through walking for leisure varied slightly between cities, 8.8%, 9.6% and 16.0% in Vitória, Curitiba and Recife, respectively
Summary
Regular practice of physical activity is associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases and mortality [1,2,3]. In spite of the evidence about the benefits of physical activity for health, inactivity prevails in both high and low and middle income countries [4]. In high income countries, such as the United States, the percentage of people not meeting recommended levels of total physical activity is about 50,0% [5]. The World Health Organization [4] cites some examples of environmental factors related to physical activity such as overcrowding, increased poverty, increased levels of crime, high levels of traffic, low air quality and lack of parks, sidewalks and sports and recreation facilities. Walking is a popular form of physical activity and a convenient option to prevent chronic diseases. 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
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