Citation

Giehl MW, Hallal PC, Weber Corseuil C, Ceola Schneider IJ, d'Orsi E. J. Phys. Act. Health 2015; 13(6): 617-624.

Affiliation

Dept of Public Health, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jpah.2015-0355

PMID

26693941

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding the built environment influence on specific domains of walking is important for public health interventions to increase physical activity levels among older adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between built environment characteristics and walking among older adults.

METHODS: A population-based study was performed in 80 census tracts in Florianopolis, Brazil, including 1,705 older adults (60+ years). Walking was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Built environment characteristics were assessed through Geographic Information System (GIS). All analyses were conducted through a multilevel logistic regression.

RESULTS: Individuals living in neighborhoods with higher population density (OR: 2.19; 95%CI: 1.40; 3.42), with higher street connectivity (OR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.16; 2,94), higher sidewalk proportion (OR: 1.77; 95%CI: 1.11; 2.83) and paved streets (medium tertile: OR: 1.61, 95%CI: 1.04; 2.49; highest tertile: OR: 2.11; 95%CI: 1.36; 3.27) were more likely to walk for transportation. Regarding walking for leisure, only two predictors were associated, area income (OR: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.04; 2.12) and street density (OR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.02; 2.10).

CONCLUSIONS: Improving the neighborhood built environment is an important step for achieving higher levels of walking in the elderly population in a middle-income country.

Language: en