Association of Food Access, Recreational Opportunities, and Natural Amenities with Engagement in the Veterans MOVE! Weight Management Program.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association of county-level food access, recreational opportunities, and natural amenities with participant engagement in a weight management program. METHODS: In this cohort study, participants in the Veterans Health Administration MOVE! weight management program between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2013, were observed for 12 months after enrollment. Engagement was measured as the number of program visits per year at 12 months. Cross-sectional analysis and spatial regression were used to examine county characteristics associated with greater participant engagement at 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 321,624 participants in 2,708 counties were included. Greater engagement was associated with older age, female sex, white race, being married, and being retired. After accounting for similarities between nearby communities, engagement at 12 months was 3.1 visits higher for each additional farmers' market per 1,000 population (P = 0.01). Engagement was highest for participants living in counties with the most natural amenities (P < 0.001). Recreational opportunities had only a small effect on engagement in the program (ß = 0.02 visits at 12 months; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of a participant's county characteristics in addition to other known demographics and program factors may help to explain variation in engagement in weight management programs.

Factors related to road system organisation and its association with mortality due to motor vehicle-pedestrian collisions in Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.

INTRODUCTION: Traffic events are one of the five leading causes of mortality in Mexico. Pedestrians are one of the main road users involved in such incidents and have the highest mortality rate, which is regularly analysed in relation to vehicles and pedestrians, but not the built environment. The purpose of this study was to analyse the elements of the road system organisation that influences the mortality rate of pedestrians hit by motor vehicles in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. METHOD: We designed a case and control study in which the cases were sites where a pedestrian died during 2012. The controls were sites close to where the death occurred, as well as those with road infrastructure characteristics similar to those where the events took place. We obtained the pedestrian data from the death certificates and assessed some of the environmental elements of the road sites. A logistic regression analysis was used to estimate OR; 95% CI. RESULTS: Road system factors related with pedestrian mortality in close locations were: the presence of bus stops on intersections in one street or both, and road system features, such as the presence of traffic islands, vehicle flow and pedestrian flow. CONCLUSIONS: According to the urban network theory and multiple theory, the final elements resulted as risk factors due to a fault in connectivity between the nodes. A temporal analysis of urban features will help urban planners make decisions regarding the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Associations between household environmental factors and immature mosquito abundance in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti-borne diseases are becoming major public health problems in tropical and sub-tropical regions. While socioeconomic status has been associated with larval mosquito abundance, the drivers or possible factors mediating this association, such as environmental factors, are yet to be identified. We examined possible associations between proximity to houses and roads and immature mosquito abundance, and assessed whether these factors and mosquito prevention measures mediated any association between household environmental factors and immature mosquito abundance. METHODS: We conducted two cross-sectional household container surveys in February-March and November-December, 2017, in urban and rural areas of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. We used principal components analysis to identify factors from 12 variables to represent the household environment. One factor which included number of rooms in house, electricity, running water, garbage service, cable, television, telephone, latrine, well, and sewer system, was termed "environmental capital." Environmental capital scores ranged from 0 to 5.5. Risk factors analyzed included environmental capital, and distance from nearest house/structure, paved road, and highway. We used Poisson regression to determine associations between distance to nearest house/structure, roads, and highways, and measures of immature mosquito abundance (total larvae, total pupae, and positive containers). Using cubic spline generalized additive models, we assessed non-linear associations between environmental capital and immature mosquito abundance. We then examined whether fumigation, cleaning containers, and distance from the nearest house, road, and highway mediated the relationship between environmental capital and larvae and pupae abundance. RESULTS: We completed 508 household surveys in February-March, and we revisited 469 households in November-December. Proximity to paved roads and other houses/structures was positively associated with larvae and pupae abundance and mediated the associations between environmental capital and total numbers of larvae/pupae (p ≤ 0.01). Distance to highways was not associated with larval/pupal abundance (p ≥ 0.48). Households with the lowest and highest environmental capital had fewer larvae/pupae than households in the middle range (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that proximity to other houses and paved roads was associated with greater abundance of larvae and pupae. Understanding risk factors such as these can allow for improved targeting of surveillance and vector control measures in areas considered at higher risk for arbovirus transmission.

Iniquities in the built environment related to physical activity in public school neighborhoods in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. / Iniquidades do ambiente construído relacionado à atividade física no entorno de escolas públicas de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil.

This study aimed to investigate the association between the characteristics of the environment related to physical activity and income in areas around schools in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. A total of 888 street segments were audited with a systematic observation instrument in three sections (Routes, Segments, and Crossings) in a radius of 500 meters around 30 public schools. The total score was the sum of the sections. Data on income in the school neighborhood were obtained from the 2010 Population Census, and the linear distance from each school to the city center was calculated. Multilevel models (level one = segment; level two = school) were applied to the analysis, with estimates of weighted means and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). In the crude analysis, the highest variability between schools was observed in the Segments section (ICC = 0.41) and the lowest in the Routes section (ICC = 0.19). The street segments located around schools in the lowest income tertile reach an adjusted mean total score of 15.6 (95%CI: 13.0-18.3), nearly half of that in those with the highest income, which reached 30.7 points (95%CI; 28.0-33.5), with a significant difference between the tertiles (p < 0.001). The score for the more central areas of the city was 30.1 (95%CI: 26.9-33.4), significantly higher (p < 0.001) than for the more peripheral areas, where the score was 16.3 (95%CI: 12.8-19.8). The characteristics of the environment assessed by the Routes and Segments sections, in addition to the total score, were associated with the lowest income. An environment with worse quality in lower income areas is one of the iniquities that needs to be faced in Brazil's metropolises in order to help improve the people's health.

A Local View of Informal Urban Environments: a Mobile Phone-Based Neighborhood Audit of Street-Level Factors in a Brazilian Informal Community.

Street-level environment characteristics influence the health behaviors and safety of urban residents, and may particularly threaten health within informal communities. However, available data on how such characteristics vary within and among informal communities is limited. We sought to adapt street audit strategies designed to characterize the physical environment for use in a large informal community, Rio das Pedras (RdP) located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A smartphone-based systematic observation protocol was used to gather street-level information for a high-density convenience sample of street segments (N = 630, estimated as 86% of all street segments in the community). We adapted items related to physical disorder and physical deterioration. Measures selected to illustrate the approach include the presence of the following: (1) low-hanging or tangled wires, (2) litter, (3) structural evidence of sinking, and (4) an unpleasant odor. Intercept-only spatial generalized additive models (GAM) were used to evaluate and visualize spatial variation within the RdP community. We also examined how our estimates and conclusions about spatial variation might have been affected by lower-density sampling from random subsets street observations. Random subsets were selected to determine the robustness of study results in scenarios with sparser street sampling. Selected characteristics were estimated to be present for between 18% (unpleasant odor) to 59% (low-hanging or tangled wires) of the street segments in RdP; estimates remain similar (± 6%) when relying on a random subset created to simulate lower-density spatial sampling. Spatial patterns of variation based on predicted probabilities across RdP differed by indicator. Structural sinking and low-hanging or tangled wires demonstrated relatively consistent spatial distribution patterns across full and random subset sample sizes. Smartphone-based systematic observations represent an efficient and potentially feasible approach to systematically studying neighborhood environments within informal communities. Future deployment of such tools will benefit from incorporating data collection across multiple time points to explore reliability and quantify neighborhood change. These tools can prove useful means to assess street-level exposures that can be modifiable health determinants across a wide range of informal urban settings. Findings can contribute to improved urban planning and provide useful information for identifying potential locations for neighborhood-scaled interventions that can improve living conditions for residents in Rio das Pedras.

Neighbourhood environment and transport-related and leisure-time sedentary behaviour amongst women in a city in Southern Brazil: a multilevel analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between neighbourhood environmental variables and excessive transport-related and leisure-time sedentary behaviour (ETSB and ELSB, respectively) amongst adult women in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a representative sample of 1079 women 20 to 69 years of age who lived in 44 neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood was determined by drawing a 400-m buffer around the median point of the participants' homes. Neighbourhoods were assessed by audit and by using government data. Sedentary behaviour (SB) and the remaining individual variables were assessed via questionnaire that was administered as an interview. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: In the adjusted analysis, women who lived in neighbourhoods with a higher percentage of terrain slope and fewer public recreation areas per resident had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased odds of exhibiting ETSB and ELSB, with 50% and 40% increases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that some aspects of the neighbourhood environment such as terrain slope and total public recreation areas per resident are related to specific SBs, indicating that improvements in neighbourhoods can reduce SB in women.

Distance from home to the nearest park and the use of the parks for physical activity: the mediator role of road safety perception in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to examine whether adolescents' road safety perception (RSP) acts as a mediator on the association between the distance from home to the nearest park and the use of the parks for physical activity (PA). STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS: The evaluation was through a random sample of 1130 adolescents (534 male), corresponding to 47.3%, 14-20 years old, from Porto Alegre, Brazil. RSP was assessed through some questions of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth. Park use, socioeconomic status, age, and sex were measured using a questionnaire. Distance from home to the nearest park was evaluated through geographic information system. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation, and linear regression models were fitted as per the Baron and Kenny procedures for mediation analyses. All analyses were adjusted for sex and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Road safety perception is independently associated with less distance from home to the nearest park (P = 0.04) and use of the parks for PA (P = 0.02). Road safety perception is a mediator and explains 16% of the association between park use and distance from home to the park (indirect Effect = -40.9966; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 119.3733-2.2455). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that RSP is a mediator on the association between the distance from home to the nearest park and the use of the parks for PA. Future studies should take this into consideration frequency and intensity of PA and other environmental characteristics, such as crime, aesthetics, and neighborhood facilities.

Iniquidades do ambiente construído relacionado à atividade física no entorno de escolas públicas de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Inequidades del ambiente construido, relacionado con la actividad física, en el entorno de escuelas públicas de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Iniquities in the built environment related to physical activity in public school neighborhoods in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a associação entre as características do ambiente relacionado à atividade física com a renda em áreas de entorno escolar em Curitiba, Paraná. Foram auditados 888 segmentos de rua com um instrumento de observação sistemática em três seções (Rotas, Segmentos e Cruzamentos) no raio de 500 metros ao redor de 30 escolas públicas. O escore total foi a soma das seções. Dados de renda do entorno escolar foram obtidos do Censo Demográfico de 2010, e a distância linear de cada escola até o centro da cidade foi calculada. Modelos multiníveis (nível um segmento e nível dois escola) foram aplicados na análise, com estimativas de médias ponderadas e correlações intraclasse (ICC). Na análise bruta, a maior variabilidade entre as escolas foi observada na seção Segmentos (ICC = 0,41), e a menor, na seção Rotas (ICC = 0,19). Os segmentos de rua localizados no entorno de escolas do primeiro tercil de renda alcançaram uma média ajustada de 15,6 (IC95%: 13,0-18,3) no escore total, quase metade daqueles de renda maior, que atingiram 30,7 (IC95%: 28,0-33,5) pontos, com diferença significativa entre os tercis (p < 0,001). O escore das áreas mais centrais foi 30,1 (IC95%: 26,9-33,4), significativamente maior (p < 0,001) se comparado àquelas mais periféricas em que a pontuação foi 16,3 (IC95%: 12,8-19,8). As características do ambiente avaliadas nas seções Rotas e Segmentos, além do escore total, mostraram-se associadas com a menor renda. Ambiente de pior qualidade em áreas de menor renda é uma das iniquidades que precisa ser enfrentada nas metrópoles brasileiras e que pode contribuir para a melhoria da saúde das pessoas.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la asociación entre las características del ambiente relacionado con la actividad física, con la renta en áreas del entorno escolar en Curitiba, Paraná. Se auditaron 888 segmentos de calle con un instrumento de observación sistemática en tres secciones (Rutas, Segmentos y Cruces) en un radio de 500 metros alrededor de 30 escuelas públicas. El marcador total fue la suma de las secciones. Los datos de renta del entorno escolar se obtuvieron del Censo Demográfico de 2010, y se calculó la distancia lineal de cada escuela hasta el centro de la ciudad. Modelos multiniveles (nivel uno segmento y nivel dos escuela) se aplicaron en el análisis, con estimativas de medias ponderadas y correlaciones intraclase (ICC). En el análisis bruto, la mayor variabilidad entre las escuelas se observó en la sección Segmentos (ICC = 0,41), y la menor, en la sección Rutas (ICC = 0,19). Los segmentos de calle, localizados en el entorno de escuelas del primer tercil de renta, alcanzaron una media ajustada de 15,6 (IC95%: 13,0-18,3) en el marcador total, casi la mitad de aquellos de renta mayor, que alcanzaron 30,7 (IC95%: 28,0-33,5) puntos, con diferencia significativa entre los terciles (p < 0,001). El marcador de las áreas más centrales fue 30,1 (IC95%: 26,9-33,4), significativamente mayor (p < 0,001), si se compara a aquellas más periféricas, donde la puntuación fue 16,3 (IC95%: 12,8-19,8). Las características del ambiente evaluadas en las secciones Rutas y Segmentos, además del marcador total, se mostraron asociadas con una menor renta. Un ambiente de peor calidad en áreas de menor renta es una de las inequidades contra las que se necesita luchar en las metrópolis brasileñas y que puede contribuir a la mejora de la salud de las personas.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the association between the characteristics of the environment related to physical activity and income in areas around schools in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. A total of 888 street segments were audited with a systematic observation instrument in three sections (Routes, Segments, and Crossings) in a radius of 500 meters around 30 public schools. The total score was the sum of the sections. Data on income in the school neighborhood were obtained from the 2010 Population Census, and the linear distance from each school to the city center was calculated. Multilevel models (level one = segment; level two = school) were applied to the analysis, with estimates of weighted means and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). In the crude analysis, the highest variability between schools was observed in the Segments section (ICC = 0.41) and the lowest in the Routes section (ICC = 0.19). The street segments located around schools in the lowest income tertile reach an adjusted mean total score of 15.6 (95%CI: 13.0-18.3), nearly half of that in those with the highest income, which reached 30.7 points (95%CI; 28.0-33.5), with a significant difference between the tertiles (p < 0.001). The score for the more central areas of the city was 30.1 (95%CI: 26.9-33.4), significantly higher (p < 0.001) than for the more peripheral areas, where the score was 16.3 (95%CI: 12.8-19.8). The characteristics of the environment assessed by the Routes and Segments sections, in addition to the total score, were associated with the lowest income. An environment with worse quality in lower income areas is one of the iniquities that needs to be faced in Brazil's metropolises in order to help improve the people's health.

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.

Contextual characteristics associated with the perceived neighbourhood scale in a cross-sectional study in a large urban centre in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Health outcomes have been associated with physical and social characteristics of neighbourhoods, but little is known about the relationship between contextual factors and perceived neighbourhood scale. OBJECTIVE: To identify the contextual factors associated with self-perceived neighbourhood scale. METHODS: We analysed data from a cross-sectional population-based study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, that took place in 2008-2009. The dependent variable was perceived neighbourhood, encoded as an ordinal scale based on a brief description of the concept of the neighbourhood, and two independent scales relating distance, expressed in terms of geography and time. Street connectivity, demographic density and residents' perceptions of the neighbourhoods' physical and social environment were used as contextual predictors. Individual characteristics were used as covariates. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression models estimated the association between perceived neighbourhood scale and contextual characteristics. RESULTS: Residents that perceive better walkability (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.29 to 3.82) and high amounts of violence (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.62) perceived their neighbourhoods to be larger, even after adjusting for individual characteristics. CONCLUSION: There are contextual factors that are associated with self-perceived neighbourhood scale. Careful definition of neighbourhood scale is a key factor in improving the results of eco-epidemiological studies. Although these findings must be further explored in other studies, these results can contribute to a better understanding of an appropriate choice of neighbourhood scale, especially for cities in Latin America.

Community and Street-Scale Supports for Walking in the US Virgin Islands Before the 2017 Hurricanes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of community and street-scale design features that promote walking across the US Virgin Islands (USVI). METHODS: In May 2016, the USVI Department of Health, with technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted a territory-wide audit with a validated tool. We selected street segments (n = 1114) via a 2-stage sampling method, and estimates were weighted to be representative of publicly accessible street length. RESULTS: Overall, 10.7% of the street length contained a transit stop, 11.3% had sidewalks, 21.7% had at least 1 destination (e.g., stores, restaurants), 27.4% had a traffic calming feature (e.g., speed humps), and 53.2% had at least some street lighting. Several features were less prevalent on residential streets compared with commercial streets, including transit stops, sidewalks, destinations, and street lighting (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Across the USVI, community and street-scale features supportive of walking were uncommon. Improving community and street-scale design in the USVI, particularly in residential areas, could increase physical activity by enhancing walkability and therefore improve public health. These data can be used to inform community planning in the USVI.

Built environment, contextual income, and obesity in older adults: evidence from a population-based study. / Ambiente construído, renda contextual e obesidade em idosos: evidências de um estudo de base populacional.

The objective was to verify the association between built environment, contextual income, and obesity in older adults in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study in a sample of 1,197 older people (≥ 60 years) evaluated in the EpiFloripa Older Adults Cohort in 2013/2014. The outcomes were overall obesity, abdominal obesity, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI). Contextual income in the census tract and characteristics of the built environment were analyzed using data from the Florianópolis Institute of Urban Planning (IPUF) and the 2010 Population Census. Logistic and multilevel linear regression models were used. For older women, intermediate mean income was associated with lower odds of abdominal and overall obesity, while higher percentage of paved streets in the census tract was associated with lower odds of abdominal obesity; one percentage point increment in local commerce decreased WC by 0.20cm, and a one percentage point increase in paved streets decreased WC by 0.43cm and BMI by 0.22kg/m2. For older men, better street connectivity and intermediate percentage of local commerce were associated with lower odds of overall obesity; the increment in street density decreased WC by 0.34cm and BMI by 10kg/m2; a one-point increment in lighting increased WC by 0.51cm and BMI by 0.11kg/m2. The results showed different associations according to sex and target outcome, highlighting the need for further studies to explore additional relevant contextual variables for these outcomes in older adults.

O objetivo foi verificar a associação entre o ambiente construído, a renda contextual e a obesidade em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Estudo transversal com amostra de 1.197 idosos (≥ 60 anos), avaliados na coorte EpiFloripa Idoso em 2013/2014. Os desfechos foram a obesidade geral, a obesidade abdominal, a circunferência da cintura (CC) e o índice de massa corporal (IMC). A renda contextual do setor censitário e as características do ambiente construído foram analisadas por meio dos dados do Instituto de Planejamento Urbano de Florianópolis (IPUF) e do Censo Demográfico de 2010. Utilizou-se modelos de regressão logística e linear multinível. Para as mulheres, a renda média intermediária foi associada às menores chances de obesidade abdominal e geral, e o maior percentual de ruas pavimentadas às menores chances de obesidade abdominal; o incremento de cada ponto percentual de comércio diminuiu 0,20cm a CC, e no de ruas pavimentadas diminuiu 0,43cm a CC e 0,22kg/m2 o IMC. Para os homens, a maior conectividade das ruas e o percentual de comércio intermediário foram associados às menores chances de obesidade geral; o incremento na densidade de ruas diminuiu 0,34cm na CC e 0,10kg/m2 no IMC; já no percentual de iluminação aumentou 0,51cm a CC e 0,11kg/m2 o IMC. Verificaram-se associações distintas de acordo com o sexo e o desfecho analisado, fazendo-se necessárias novas pesquisas que explorem variáveis contextuais adicionais e relevantes a esses desfechos entre os idosos.

El objetivo fue verificar la asociación entre el ambiente construido, la renta contextual y la obesidad en ancianos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Estudio transversal con una muestra de 1.197 ancianos (≥ 60 años), evaluados en la cohorte EpiFloripa Idoso en 2013/2014. Los desenlaces fueron: obesidad general, obesidad abdominal, circunferencia de la cintura (CC) e índice de masa corporal (IMC). La renta contextual del sector censal y las características del ambiente construido se analizaron mediante los datos del Instituto de Planificación Urbana de Florianópolis (IPUF) y del Censo de 2010. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística y lineal multinivel. En el caso de las mujeres, una renta media intermedia se asoció a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad abdominal y general, y el mayor porcentaje de calles pavimentadas a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad abdominal; el incremento de cada punto porcentual de comercio disminuyó 0,20cm la CC, y en el de calles pavimentadas disminuyó a 0,43cm la CC y 0,22kg/m2 el IMC. Para los hombres, la mayor conectividad de las calles y el porcentaje de comercio medio estuvieron asociados a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad general; el incremento en la densidad de calles disminuyó 0,34cm en la CC y 0,10kg/m2 en el IMC; en el caso del porcentaje de iluminación aumentó 0,51cm la CC y 0,11kg/m2 el IMC. Se verificaron asociaciones distintas, de acuerdo con el sexo y el desenlace analizado, haciéndose necesarias nuevas investigaciones que exploren variables contextuales adicionales y relevantes a estos desenlaces entre los ancianos.

Ambiente construído, renda contextual e obesidade em idosos: evidências de um estudo de base populacional / Ambiente construido, renta contextual y obesidad en ancianos: evidencias de un estudio de base poblacional / Built environment, contextual income, and obesity in older adults: evidence from a population-based study

O objetivo foi verificar a associação entre o ambiente construído, a renda contextual e a obesidade em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Estudo transversal com amostra de 1.197 idosos (≥ 60 anos), avaliados na coorte EpiFloripa Idoso em 2013/2014. Os desfechos foram a obesidade geral, a obesidade abdominal, a circunferência da cintura (CC) e o índice de massa corporal (IMC). A renda contextual do setor censitário e as características do ambiente construído foram analisadas por meio dos dados do Instituto de Planejamento Urbano de Florianópolis (IPUF) e do Censo Demográfico de 2010. Utilizou-se modelos de regressão logística e linear multinível. Para as mulheres, a renda média intermediária foi associada às menores chances de obesidade abdominal e geral, e o maior percentual de ruas pavimentadas às menores chances de obesidade abdominal; o incremento de cada ponto percentual de comércio diminuiu 0,20cm a CC, e no de ruas pavimentadas diminuiu 0,43cm a CC e 0,22kg/m2 o IMC. Para os homens, a maior conectividade das ruas e o percentual de comércio intermediário foram associados às menores chances de obesidade geral; o incremento na densidade de ruas diminuiu 0,34cm na CC e 0,10kg/m2 no IMC; já no percentual de iluminação aumentou 0,51cm a CC e 0,11kg/m2 o IMC. Verificaram-se associações distintas de acordo com o sexo e o desfecho analisado, fazendo-se necessárias novas pesquisas que explorem variáveis contextuais adicionais e relevantes a esses desfechos entre os idosos.

El objetivo fue verificar la asociación entre el ambiente construido, la renta contextual y la obesidad en ancianos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Estudio transversal con una muestra de 1.197 ancianos (≥ 60 años), evaluados en la cohorte EpiFloripa Idoso en 2013/2014. Los desenlaces fueron: obesidad general, obesidad abdominal, circunferencia de la cintura (CC) e índice de masa corporal (IMC). La renta contextual del sector censal y las características del ambiente construido se analizaron mediante los datos del Instituto de Planificación Urbana de Florianópolis (IPUF) y del Censo de 2010. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística y lineal multinivel. En el caso de las mujeres, una renta media intermedia se asoció a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad abdominal y general, y el mayor porcentaje de calles pavimentadas a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad abdominal; el incremento de cada punto porcentual de comercio disminuyó 0,20cm la CC, y en el de calles pavimentadas disminuyó a 0,43cm la CC y 0,22kg/m2 el IMC. Para los hombres, la mayor conectividad de las calles y el porcentaje de comercio medio estuvieron asociados a unas menores oportunidades de obesidad general; el incremento en la densidad de calles disminuyó 0,34cm en la CC y 0,10kg/m2 en el IMC; en el caso del porcentaje de iluminación aumentó 0,51cm la CC y 0,11kg/m2 el IMC. Se verificaron asociaciones distintas, de acuerdo con el sexo y el desenlace analizado, haciéndose necesarias nuevas investigaciones que exploren variables contextuales adicionales y relevantes a estos desenlaces entre los ancianos.

The objective was to verify the association between built environment, contextual income, and obesity in older adults in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study in a sample of 1,197 older people (≥ 60 years) evaluated in the EpiFloripa Older Adults Cohort in 2013/2014. The outcomes were overall obesity, abdominal obesity, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI). Contextual income in the census tract and characteristics of the built environment were analyzed using data from the Florianópolis Institute of Urban Planning (IPUF) and the 2010 Population Census. Logistic and multilevel linear regression models were used. For older women, intermediate mean income was associated with lower odds of abdominal and overall obesity, while higher percentage of paved streets in the census tract was associated with lower odds of abdominal obesity; one percentage point increment in local commerce decreased WC by 0.20cm, and a one percentage point increase in paved streets decreased WC by 0.43cm and BMI by 0.22kg/m2. For older men, better street connectivity and intermediate percentage of local commerce were associated with lower odds of overall obesity; the increment in street density decreased WC by 0.34cm and BMI by 10kg/m2; a one-point increment in lighting increased WC by 0.51cm and BMI by 0.11kg/m2. The results showed different associations according to sex and target outcome, highlighting the need for further studies to explore additional relevant contextual variables for these outcomes in older adults.

Childhood Obesity and Physical Activity-Friendly School Environments.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood obesity may be related to school environment, but previous studies often focused on food environment only. This study aimed to examine the relationship between school physical activity environment and childhood obesity. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study with multilevel data collected on school physical activity environment using teacher questionnaires, students' growth, and obesity status from electronic health records, and neighborhood socioeconomic status from census data. RESULTS: This study included 208 280 students (6-18 years of age) from 438 schools (45% of Hong Kong). Prevalence of obesity was 5.0%. After controlling for socioeconomic status and intraschool correlation, robust Poisson regression revealed a reduced obesity risk associated with higher teachers' perceived physical activity benefits (risk ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, P = .02), physical activity teaching experience (0.93, 0.91-0.96, P < .001), school campus size (0.93, 0.87-0.99, P = .02), physical activity ethos (0.91, 0.88-0.94, P < .001), number of physical activity programs (0.93, 0.90-0.96, P < .001), and physical activity facilities (0.87, 0.84-0.90, P < .001). Students in schools with at least 3 physical activity-friendly environmental factors (11.7%) had a much lower risk of obesity (0.68, 0.62-0.75, P < .001) than those without (23.7%). CONCLUSIONS: A physical activity-friendly school environment is associated with lower risk of obesity. School physical activity environment should be considered in future epidemiologic and intervention studies.

Individual and environmental correlates of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adults from Curitiba, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the association of individual and neighborhood environment characteristics and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in adults from Curitiba, Brazil. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face household interviews in 2010. The analytic sample included 305 adults aged 20-65 years recruited from 32 census tracts selected according to neighborhood walkability and socioeconomic status. Individual and environmental PA correlates were evaluated through standardized and valid self-reported measures, including the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale. Minutes per week of PA and ST were assessed through accelerometry. Multi-level regression models were used in the analyses. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders the strongest individual and environmental correlates associated with ST was residential density (B = 0.14; p = 0.008), light-intensity PA was being a father/mother (B = 35.71; p = 0.025) and moderate-to-vigorous PA was sex (B = 0.91; p < 0.001) and number of cars (one car, B = -1.05; two cars, B = -1.14; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The associations found with individual and environmental correlates varied accordingly across all outcomes. Future changes in policies and infrastructure should consider the social context of the community and improvements to promote a safer environment in the neighborhood.

Perceived neighborhood environmental attributes associated with leisure-time and transport physical activity in Mexican adults.

Environmental factors have been associated with specific physical activity domains, including leisure-time and transport physical activity, in some high income countries. Few studies have examined the environmental correlates for domain-specific physical activity in low-and middle-income countries, and results are inconsistent. We aimed to estimate the associations between perceived environment and self-reported leisure-time walking, moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity and transport physical activity among adults living in Cuernavaca, Mexico. A population-based study of adults 20 to 64years old was conducted in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 2011 (n=677). Leisure and transport physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Long Form. Perceptions of neighborhood environment were obtained by questionnaire. Hurdle regression models estimated the association between environmental perceptions and participation and time spent in each physical activity domain. High perceived aesthetics were positively correlated with participation and time spent in leisure-time walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. SES differences existed for aesthetics in relation to participation in leisure-time walking. Participation in transport physical activity was positively associated with easy access to large parks, while closer distance to large parks was a negative correlate for participation and time-spent in this physical activity domain. Results suggest that perceived environmental characteristics related with physical activity are domain specific. High perceived aesthetics were an important correlate for leisure-time activities among Mexican adults, suggesting that policy strategies aimed at improving this environmental perception may be warranted. Patterns of associations between environmental correlates and transport physical activity differed from those reported in commonly studied high income countries.

Does being an Olympic city help improve recreational resources? Examining the quality of physical activity resources in a low-income neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of public physical activity resources (PARs) in a low socio-economic community in the Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: The Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) instrument was used to assess all 29 public PARs located in this community. A quality indicator (QI) was developed based on PARA results. RESULTS: The average QI of the areas assessed was 1.3 ± 6.40 and the median 1 point, a considerably low score if compared to scores of public PARs across the city (13.6 ± 4.91 and 13 points). CONCLUSIONS: The urban regeneration necessary for hosting mega-sport events is frequently promoted as an opportunity to enhance PARs and therefore to improve health through physical activity (PA) participation. Findings indicate that the high number of elements that can discourage the use of these spaces may help explain the low level of PA during leisure time that has been previously reported of residents of the same neighborhood. Whether using the Olympic Games as catalyst or not, policies designed to encourage PA should focus also on the built environment.

Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Physical Activity: The International Physical Activity and Environment Network Adult Study in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: There is compelling evidence linking physical activity with environmental characteristics in high-income countries, but evidence among low- and middle-income countries is scarce and results are inconsistent. This study assessed associations between perceived measures of the built environment and objectively measured physical activity among Mexican adults. METHODS: A population-based study of adults aged 20-65 years was conducted in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 2011 (N=629). Participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Perceived environment data were obtained by questionnaire. In 2014, multiple regression models estimated the association between perceived environmental variables and total moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); MVPA within 10-minute bouts was analyzed using a two-part model. RESULTS: Easy access to neighborhood parks and close proximity to metropolitan parks were positively associated with total MVPA. Proximity to metropolitan parks was also positively related to any MVPA within bouts among women. High perceived aesthetics among those of low SES and high perceived safety from crime among men were positively associated with total MVPA and MVPA within bouts. Having few cul-de-sacs within the neighborhood and proximity to transit stops were inversely related to total MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Access to parks, aesthetics, and safety from crime are important correlates of physical activity among Mexican adults. Yet, this study finds no association for other environmental features usually thought to be important for increasing activity levels. These findings highlight the importance of conducting more studies in low- and middle-income countries that examine the relationship between physical activity and the built environment.

The walking environment in Lima, Peru and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions: an exploratory analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Pedestrians comprise 78% of the road fatalities in Peru. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the walking environment and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions. METHODS: A matched case-control study was used to detect the odds of a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision at a pedestrian crossing location. Data were collected from 11 sampled police commissaries in Lima, Peru. RESULTS: In a multivariable model adjusting for vehicle and pedestrian flow, pedestrian collisions were less likely in the presence of a curb and sidewalk on both roadway sides (odds ratio [OR] = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.33) or a pedestrian barricade (OR = 0.11, 95% CI, 0.01-0.81). There was a greater risk of collisions for each street vendor present (OR = 2.82, 95% CI, 1.59-5.00) or whether any parked vehicles (OR = 3.67, 95% CI, 1.18-11.4) were present. CONCLUSIONS: Improving or addressing these potentially modifiable features of the walking environment could improve pedestrian safety in Lima and in similar urban settings in low- and middle-income countries.

Bus stops and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions in Lima, Peru: a matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between bus stop characteristics and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions. METHODS: This was a matched case-control study where the units of study were pedestrian crossings in Lima, Peru. We performed a random sample of 11 police commissaries in Lima, Peru. Data collection occurred from February 2011 to September 2011. A total of 97 intersection cases representing 1134 collisions and 40 mid-block cases representing 469 collisions that occurred between October 2010 and January 2011, and their matched controls, were included. The main exposures assessed were presence of a bus stop and specific bus stop characteristics. The main outcome measure was occurrence of a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision. RESULTS: Intersections with bus stops were three times more likely to have a pedestrian-vehicle collision (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.53 to 7.03), relative to intersections without bus stops. Formal and informal bus stops were associated with higher odds of a collision at intersections (OR 6.23, 95% CI 1.76 to 22.0 and OR 2.98, 1.37 to 6.49). At mid-block sites, bus stops on a bus-dedicated transit lane were also associated with collision risk (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.02 to 5.42). All bus stops were located prior to the intersection, contrary to practices in most high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: In urban Lima, the presence of a bus stop was associated with a threefold increase in risk of a pedestrian collision. The highly competitive environment among bus companies may provide an economic incentive for risky practices, such as dropping off passengers in the middle of traffic and jockeying for position with other buses. Bus stop placement should be considered to improve pedestrian safety.