Citation

Thielman J, Rosella L, Copes R, Lebenbaum M, Manson H. Prev. Med. 2015; 77: 174-180.

Affiliation

Public Health Ontario, 480 University Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1V2; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 3M7; School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Toronto, N2L 3G1. Electronic address: heather.manson@oahpp.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.05.011

PMID

26007297

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate associations between walkability and physical activity during transportation and leisure in a national-level population.

METHODS: Walkability was measured by Walk Score® (2012-2014) and physical activity by the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007-2012) for urban participants who worked or attended school. Multiple linear regression was done on the total study population, four age subgroups (12-17, 18-29, 30-64, 65+) and three population centre subgroups (1,000-29,999, 30,000-99,999, 100,000+).

RESULTS: 151,318 respondents were examined. Comparing highest to lowest Walk Score® quintiles, covariate-adjusted energy expenditure on transport walking [95% confidence interval] was 0.17 [0.15, 0.18] kcal/kg/day higher in the total study population, and significantly higher in all age and population centre subgroups. Leisure physical activity was lower in the age 18-29 subgroup (-0.28 [-0.43, -0.12]) and population centres 100,000+ subgroup (-0.10 [-0.18, -0.03]), but higher in the population centres 1,000-29,999 subgroup (0.30 [0.12, 0.48]). Total physical activity was higher in the following subgroups: age 30-64 (0.19 [0.12, 0.26]), population centres 100,000+ (0.12 [0.04, 0.19]) and population centres 1,000-29,999 (0.40 [0.20, 0.59]).

CONCLUSIONS: Walkability is associated with transport walking in all age groups and towns and cities of all sizes. Walkability's inverse associations with leisure physical activity among young adults and in large population centres may offset energy expenditure gains, while positive associations in small centres may add to energy expenditure.

Language: en