title: Physical activity and its relationship with perceived environment among adults living in a region of low socioeconomic level.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The environment has a great influence on people's lifestyles and their capacity to choose healthy habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived environment and physical activity among adults living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional population-based study conducted with 890 people age 18 years or over. Physical activity was measured through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; long version) and perceived environment was evaluated using the Neighborhood Walkability Scale (NEWS) adapted. Poisson's regression was used for statistical analyses and prevalence ratios were calculated. The outcome variable was the attainment of at least 150 minutes per week of physical activities. The independent variables consisted of perceived environment variables and control variables (sex, age, schooling, time living in the home, and number of cars per household).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perceived environment variables that explained physical activity were: receiving invitations from friends for activities (P = .012), low environmental pollution scores (p trend = 0.030) and high general safety scores (P-trend = 0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that physical activity promotion in regions like this should be envisaged as a complex phenomenon and investments in public safety, prevention and combating of environmental pollution and social support networks are needed.
authors.affiliation: School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alex Antonio
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Florindo
authors.forename: Emanuel Péricles
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Rodrigo Siqueira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology