Campus walkability, pedometer-determined steps, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a comparison of 2 university campuses.
OBJECTIVE
At 2 Arizona State University (ASU) campuses, the authors measured student activity and distance walked on campus, as well as student-reported walkability around the student union.


METHODS
Students from ASU-Polytechnic (n = 20, 33% male) and ASU-Tempe (n = 20, 60% male) recorded distance walked on campus and wore physical activity monitors for 5 days.


RESULTS
Polytechnic students spent an average of 36.9 minutes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week; Tempe students spent 69.5 minutes (p < .001). At Polytechnic, students walked an average of 7,674 steps per weekday; at Tempe, 11,294 steps (p = .003). Female students at Polytechnic walked an average of 1.3 km/d; at Tempe, 4.3 km/d (p < .001). At Polytechnic, men walked an average of 1.4 km/d; at Tempe, 3.1 km/d (p = .03). Tempe students rated campus walk-ability as very good, whereas Polytechnic students rated it fair (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Students at both campuses met activity recommendations; noted differences may be attributed to the built environment's contribution to walkability.
Sisson
Susan B
SB
Population Science Department, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA. susan.sisson@pbrc.edu
McClain
James J
JJ
Tudor-Locke
Catrine
C
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*