Do associations of sex, age and education with transport and leisure-time physical activity differ across 17 cities in 12 countries?

BACKGROUND: Leisure-time and transport activity domains are studied most often because they are considered more amenable to intervention, but to date evidence on these domains is limited. The aim of the present study was to examine patterns of socio-demographic correlates of adults' leisure-time and transport physical activity and how these associations varied across 17 cities in 12 countries. METHODS: Participants (N = 13,745) aged 18-66 years in the IPEN Adult study and with complete data on socio-demographic and self-reported physical activity characteristics were included. Participants reported frequency and duration of leisure-time and transport activities in the last 7 days using the self-administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form. Six physical activity outcomes were examined in relation with age, education, and sex, and analyses explored variations by city and curvilinear associations. RESULTS: Sex had the most consistent results, with five of six physical activity outcomes showing females were less active than males. Age had the most complex associations with self-report transport and leisure-time physical activity. Compared to older people, younger adults were less likely to engage in transport physical activity, but among those who did, younger people were likely to engage in more active minutes. Curvilinear associations were found between age and all three leisure-time physical activity outcomes, with the youngest and the oldest being more active. Positive associations with education were found for leisure-time physical activity only. There were significant interactions of city with sex and education for multiple physical activity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although socio-demographic correlates of physical activity are widely studied, the present results provide new information. City-specific findings suggest there will be value in conducting more detailed case studies. The curvilinear associations of age with leisure-time physical activity as well as significant interactions of leisure-time activity with sex and education should be further investigated. The findings of lower leisure-time physical activity among females as well as people with low education suggest that greater and continued efforts in physical activity policies and programs tailored to these high-risk groups are needed internationally.

Study protocol: healthy urban living and ageing in place (HULAP): an international, mixed methods study examining the associations between physical activity, built and social environments for older adults the UK and Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The ability to 'age in place' is dependent on a range of inter-personal, social and built environment attributes, with the latter being a key area for potential intervention. There is an emerging body of evidence that indicates the type of built environment features that may best support age friendly communities, but there is a need to expand and consolidate this, while generating a better understanding of how on how research findings can be most effectively be translated in to policy and practice. METHODS: The study is based on two case study cities, Curtiba (Brazil) and Belfast (UK), which have highly contrasting physical, social and policy environments. The study deploys a mix methods approach, mirrored in each city. This includes the recruitment of 300 participants in each city to wear GPS and accelerometers, a survey capturing physical functioning and other personal attributes, as well as their perception of their local environment using NEWS-A. The study will also measure the built environments of the cities using GIS and develop a tool for auditing the routes used by participants around their neighbourhoods. The study seeks to comparatively map the policy actors and resources involved in healthy ageing in the two cities through interviews, focus groups and discourse analysis. Finally, the study has a significant knowledge exchange component, including the development of a tool to assess the capacities of both researchers and research users to maximise the impact of the research findings. DISCUSSION: The HULAP study has been designed and implemented by a multi-disciplinary team and integrates differing methodologies to purposefully impact on policy and practice on healthy ageing in high and low-middle income countries. It has particular strengths in its combination of objective and self-reported measures using validated tools and the integration of GPS, accelerometer and GIS data to provide a robust assessment of 'spatial energetics'. The strong knowledge exchange strand means that the study is expected to also contribute to our understanding of how to maximise research impact in this field and create effective evidence for linking older adult's physical activity with the social, built and policy environments.

International comparison of observation-specific spatial buffers: maximizing the ability to estimate physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in geographic information systems over the past two decades have increased the specificity by which an individual's neighborhood environment may be spatially defined for physical activity and health research. This study investigated how different types of street network buffering methods compared in measuring a set of commonly used built environment measures (BEMs) and tested their performance on associations with physical activity outcomes. METHODS: An internationally-developed set of objective BEMs using three different spatial buffering techniques were used to evaluate the relative differences in resulting explanatory power on self-reported physical activity outcomes. BEMs were developed in five countries using 'sausage,' 'detailed-trimmed,' and 'detailed,' network buffers at a distance of 1 km around participant household addresses (n = 5883). RESULTS: BEM values were significantly different (p < 0.05) for 96% of sausage versus detailed-trimmed buffer comparisons and 89% of sausage versus detailed network buffer comparisons. Results showed that BEM coefficients in physical activity models did not differ significantly across buffering methods, and in most cases BEM associations with physical activity outcomes had the same level of statistical significance across buffer types. However, BEM coefficients differed in significance for 9% of the sausage versus detailed models, which may warrant further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study inform the selection of spatial buffering methods to estimate physical activity outcomes using an internationally consistent set of BEMs. Using three different network-based buffering methods, the findings indicate significant variation among BEM values, however associations with physical activity outcomes were similar across each buffering technique. The study advances knowledge by presenting consistently assessed relationships between three different network buffer types and utilitarian travel, sedentary behavior, and leisure-oriented physical activity outcomes.

Built environment in programs to promote physical activity among Latino children and youth living in the United States and in Latin America.

To prevent obesity among Latino youth in the United States and Latin America, it is necessary to understand the specific context and interplay of physical activity (PA) and the built environment (BE). This paper aims to advance the research agenda of BE and PA for obesity prevention in Latin America and among Latino youth in the United States by (1) identifying environmental indicators to inform the design of interventions and policy, (2) identifying interdisciplinary methodological approaches for the study of the complex association between BE and PA, and (3) presenting case studies of PA-promoting BE programs. A group of U.S. and Latin American scientists collaboratively worked to propose innovative indicators of the BE, methodological approaches for the study of the complex association between BE and PA, and review case studies of PA-promoting BE programs in both regions. The results identified gaps in knowledge, proposed environmental indicators (e.g., landscape, street design, mobility patterns, and crime and safety), reviewed methodological approaches (social network analysis, citizen science methods), and case studies illustrating PA-promoting BE programs (i.e., play streets, active school transport, and school setting interventions). The obesity prevention among Latino and Latin American youth requires advanced research on BE and PA addressing context-specific priorities and exchanging lessons learned.

El entorno construido en los programas diseñados para promover la actividad física entre las niñas, niños y jóvenes latinos que viven en Estados Unidos y América Latina.

Prevenir la obesidad entre los jóvenes latinos que viven en Estados Unidos y en países latinoamericanos requiere reconocer la especificidad de los contextos y las interacciones entre actividad física (AF) y entorno construido (EC). El objetivo de este artículo es avanzar en la agenda de investigación sobre el EC y la AF con el fin de prevenir la obesidad en Latinoamérica y entre los jóvenes latinos de Estados Unidos mediante (1) la identificación de indicadores del entorno que contribuyan en el diseño de intervenciones y políticas; (2) la identificación de enfoques metodológicos interdisciplinarios para el estudio de la relación compleja que se establece entre el EC y la AF y (3) la presentación de estudios de casos sobre programas de EC que promueven la AF. Un grupo de científicos estadounidenses y latinoamericanos trabajó en colaboración para proponer nuevos indicadores sobre el EC, establecer enfoques metodológicos que permitan estudiar la relación compleja entre EC y AF, y revisar estudios de caso sobre programas de EC que promueven la AF en ambas regiones. Como resultado, se identificaron lagunas de conocimiento, se propusieron indicadores del entorno (como el paisaje, el diseño de las calles, los patrones de movilidad, la delincuencia y la seguridad), se revisaron enfoques metodológicos (análisis de redes sociales, métodos de ciencia ciudadana) y se analizaron estudios de caso de programas del EC que promueven la AF (calles para el juego, desplazamiento activo a la escuela e intervenciones en el entorno escolar). La prevención de la obesidad entre los jóvenes latinos y latinoamericanos exige una investigación avanzada del EC y de la AF que aborde las prioridades específicas de cada contexto y permita intercambiar las lecciones aprendidas.

Promoting physical activity and quality of life in Vitoria, Brazil: evaluation of the Exercise Orientation Service (EOS) program.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between exposure to the Exercise Orientation Service (EOS) program and physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL) in adults from Vitoria, Brazil. METHODS: A phone survey was conducted with 2023 randomly selected participants (≥ 18 years) to measure awareness about the program, participation in the program, PA levels, and QoL. The associations were tested using Poisson and Linear regression models. RESULTS: 31.5% reported awareness about the program, 1.5% reported current participation, and 5.8% reported previous participation. Participation was higher among women (2.1%), older subjects (2.8%), and those reporting morbidities (2.4%). Awareness was higher among middle-aged persons (36.0%) and highly educated participants (37.1%). Current participation (PR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.65-2.99) and awareness (PR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.02-1.30) were associated with leisure-time PA (LTPA). CONCLUSION: Exposure to the program was not associated with QoL but was consistently associated with sufficient levels of LTPA among adults from Vitoria, Brazil.

Association between private and public places and practice of physical activity in adults / Associação entre locais públicos e privados e prática de atividade física em adultos

Abstract There are some studies that showed the relationship between built environment with practice of physical activity during leisure-time and active transportation in the adult population. However, this relationship may be influence by type and intensity of physical activity. The aim of this study was to verify association between public and private places for engaging in different types of physical activity in adults of Rio Claro City, Brazil. Cross sectional study with representative sample of 1588 adults with a mean age of 45.7±17.0 years completed the IPAQ-long form. Geographic Information System data were employed to assess the built environment. The time to different physical activity types were divided in actives (≥10 min/week) and inactive (<10 min/week). Poisson Multilevel Regression Analysis was performed in the Stata version 12.0. After adjusting for confounders, walking during leisure-time was positively associated with São Paulo’s Social Vulnerability Index (SSVI) categories of 1 (PR=2.77) through 5 (PR=1.94) and negatively associated with population density higher than 68 km/m2 (PR=0.70). Vigorous intensity physical activity was negatively associated with distance greater than 596 meters of private places to practice physical activity (PR=0.50). Total leisure time physical activity was positively associated with SSVI 1 (PR=2.48) and 5 (RP=1.89). Moderate intensity physical activity was not associated with built environment factors. There were differents associations between the built environment factors with leisure time PA except to moderate intensity physical activity.

Resumo Há diversos estudos que verificaram a relação entre ambiente construído e a prática de atividade física no lazer e no transporte ativo na população adulta. Entretanto, essa relação parece ser influenciada pelo tipo e intensidade da atividade física. Objetivou-se verificar a associação entre locais públicos e privados para a prática de atividade física com diferentes tipos de atividade física em adultos da cidade de Rio Claro-SP/Brasil. Estudo transversal com amostra representativa de 1.588 adultos (45,7±17,0 anos) que responderam o IPAQ versão longa. Dados do sistema de informação geográfica foram utilizados para avaliar o ambiente construído. O tempo dos diferentes tipos de atividade física foi dividido em ativo (≥10 min/sem) e inativo (<10 min/sem). Foi realizada a regressão multinivel de Poisson no Stata versão 12.0. Depois de ajustado pelas variáveis de confusão, a caminhada no lazer foi associada positivamente com o Indice de Vulnerabilidade Social de São Paulo (IPVS) da categoria 1 (RP=2,77) à 5 (RP=1,94) e, negativamente, associado com densidade populacional maior que 68 km/m2 (RP=0,70). Atividade física vigorosa de lazer foi associada negativamente com distâncias maiores que 596 metros de locais privados para atividade física (RP=0,50). Atividade física total foi possitivamente associado com o IPVS 1 (RP=2,48) e 5 (RP=1,89) e, atividade física moderada não foi associada com nenhuma variável do ambiente construído. Houve associações distintas entre o ambiente construído e os tipos de atividades físicas, exceto para atividades de intensidade moderada.

Avaliação de programas comunitários de promoção da atividade física: o caso de Curitiba, Paraná / Evaluation of community physical activity programs: the case of Curitiba, Brazil

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as intervenções para promoção de atividade física (AF) ofertadas pela prefeitura municipal de Curitiba, Paraná (PMC). Para tal, realizou-se um inquérito domiciliar com 120 adultos igualmente distribuídos entre os sexos, e residentes próximos a Centros de Esporte e Lazer (CEL) da cidade. A seleção dos CEL ocorreu de forma aleatória, e as residências foram abordadas de maneira sistemática. Entre os entrevistados, 76% já viram, 15% participaram/participam de algum programa, 48% realiza AF nos espaços disponibilizados pela PMC e 43% ouviu falar do Programa CuritibAtiva. Apenas 10% dos entrevistados relataram ter recebido algum folder do programa CuritibAtiva e uma proporção ainda menor (0,8%) disseram que participam/participaram das atividades promovidas pelo programa CuritibAtiva. Mais da metade dos usuários atribuiu boa/ótima avaliação aos itens dos programas. Desta forma os programas da PMC parecem ser abrangentes, bem difundidos e bem avaliados por seus usuários.

The aim of this study was to evaluate community physical activity (PA) programs offered by the Curitiba municipality administration. We carried out a household-based study including 120 adults (equally distributed by sex), living close to sports and leisure centers (CEL). CELs were randomly sampled, and households around each selected CEL were systematically approached. Out of the 120 interviewees, 76% saw, 15% participate/have participated of at least one of the programs offered by the municipality. Approximately half (48%) of the respondents practiced PA in the city public spaces, or heard about the CuritibAtiva program (43%). Only 10% and 0.8% of the subjects reported to have received a flyer or to participate/have participated of the CuritibAtiva program, respectively. More than half of the interviewees rated as good or excellent the items of the programs. We conclude that Curitiba programs seem to be widely known by the city population, as well as rated positively by the interviewees.