Associations of perceived community environmental attributes with walking in a population-based sample of adults with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
No studies have yet examined the associations of physical environmental attributes specifically with walking in adults with type 2 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine associations of perceived community physical environmental attributes with walking for transport and for recreation among adults living with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Participants were 771 adults with type 2 diabetes who completed a self-administered survey on perceived community physical environmental attributes and walking behaviors.


RESULTS
Based on a criterion of a minimum of 120-min/week, some 29% were sufficiently active through walking for transport and 33% through walking for recreation. Significantly higher proportions of those actively walking for transport and for recreation had shops or places to buy things close by (67.8% and 60.9%); lived within a 15-min walk to a transit stop (70.6% and 71.0%); did not have dead-end streets close by (77.7% and 79.8%); reported interesting things to look at (84.8% and 84.4%); and lived close to low-cost recreation facilities (81.3% and 78.8%). In addition, those actively walking for transport reported living in a community with intersections close to each other (75.6%) and with sidewalks on their streets (88.1%). When these variables were entered simultaneously into logistic regression models, living close by to shops was positively related to walking for transport (OR = 1.92, 99% CI = 1.11-3.32).


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with findings from studies of healthy adult populations, positive perceptions of community environmental attributes are associated with walking for transport among adults with type 2 diabetes. The now-strong public health case for environmental innovations to promote more walking for transport is further reinforced by the potential to benefit those living with diabetes.
Taylor
Lorian M
LM
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. lmtaylor@ualberta.ca
Leslie
Eva
E
Plotnikoff
Ronald C
RC
Owen
Neville
N
Spence
John C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011998:Recreation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*