title: Objectively measured physical activity levels of Venetian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Venice, Italy, provides a unique environment to study physical activity as there are no automobiles, and walking is the most common means of transportation. The purpose of the present investigation was to objectively assess the physical activity (PA) levels of residents in Venice, Italy, using an accelerometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven Venetians (12 men and 15 women, 48 ± 16 yr, 169.4 ± 6.6 cm, 71.7 ± 11.1 kg) had worn an accelerometer (Lifecorder Ex) for 7 consecutive days in order to determine daily number of steps, time spent in light (LPA), moderate (MPA), or vigorous intensity (VPA) and moderate to vigorous intensity (MVPA) as well as energy expenditure associated with PA (PAEE). The time for all PA and MVPA lasting at least 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes and 10 minutes were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PAEE, number of steps, LPA, MPA, VPA and MVPA averaged over 7 days of week were 1575 ± 524 kJ∙day⁻¹, 11920 ± 3667 steps∙day⁻¹, 77 ± 23 min∙day 43 ± 19 min∙day⁻¹, and 45 ± 21 min∙day⁻¹. The time for MVPA lasting >10 min was 0.3 ± 0.9 min∙day⁻¹.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amount and intensity of PA in Venetian adults is substantially higher than in most other populations previously evaluated, particularly American adults. The effects of the highly active Venetian lifestyle on important health outcomes remain unclear, but warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sports Science Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan - ayabemakoto@mac.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayabe
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Brubaker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sunami
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musci
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumahara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*