title: Neighborhood environments and physical activity among adults in 11 countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding environmental correlates of physical activity can inform policy changes. Surveys were conducted in 11 countries using the same self-report environmental variables and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, allowing analyses with pooled data.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participating countries were Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, China (Hong Kong), Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S., with a combined sample of 11,541 adults living in cities. Samples were reasonably representative, and seasons of data collection were comparable. Participants indicated whether seven environmental attributes were present in their neighborhood. Outcomes were measures of whether health-related guidelines for physical activity were met. Data were collected in 2002-2003 and analyzed in 2007. Logistic regression analyses evaluated associations of physical activity with environmental attributes, adjusted for age, gender, and clustering within country.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of seven environmental variables were significantly related to meeting physical activity guidelines, ranging from access to low-cost recreation facilities (OR=1.16) to sidewalks on most streets (OR=1.47). A graded association was observed, with the most activity-supportive neighborhoods having 100% higher rates of sufficient physical activity compared to those with no supportive attributes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest neighborhoods built to support physical activity have a strong potential to contribute to increased physical activity. Designing neighborhoods to support physical activity can now be defined as an international public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Active Living Research, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92103, USA. sallis@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
authors.forename: Heather R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bowles
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: Cora L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefevre
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matsudo
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsudo
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volbekiene
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Harriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Lena Klasson
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Heggebo
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomten
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000569:Americas; D002947:Cities; D003625:Data Collection; D004777:Environment; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011153:Population; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult