title: Neighbourhood walkability, daily steps and utilitarian walking in Canadian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the associations of neighbourhood walkability (based on Geographic Information System (GIS)-derived measures of street connectivity, land use mix, and population density and the Walk Score) with self-reported utilitarian walking and accelerometer-assessed daily steps in Canadian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2007-2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  Home neighbourhoods (500 m polygonal street network buffers around the centroid of the participant's postal code) located in Atlantic Canada, Québec, Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  5605 individuals participated in the survey. 3727 adults (≥18 years) completed a computer-assisted interview and attended a mobile clinic assessment. Analyses were based on those who had complete exposure, outcome and covariate data (n=2949).
  
  
  METHODS
  GIS-derived walkability (based on land use mix, street connectivity and population density); Walk Score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported utilitarian walking; accelerometer-assessed daily steps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No important relationship was observed between neighbourhood walkability and daily steps. Participants who reported more utilitarian walking, however, accumulated more steps (<1 h/week: 6613 steps/day, 95% CI 6251 to 6975; 1 to 5 h/week: 6768 steps/day, 95% CI 6420 to 7117; ≥6 h/week: 7391 steps/day, 95% CI 6972 to 7811). There was a positive graded association between walkability and odds of walking ≥1 h/week for utilitarian purposes (eg, Q4 vs Q1 of GIS-derived walkability: OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.11; Q3 vs Q1: OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.76; Q2 vs Q1: OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.39) independent of age, sex, body mass index, married/common law status, annual household income, having children in the household, immigrant status, mood disorder, perceived health, ever smoker and season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to expectations, living in more walkable Canadian neighbourhoods was not associated with more total walking. Utilitarian walking and daily steps were, however, correlated and walkability demonstrated a positive graded relationship with utilitarian walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hajna
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada Department of Geography, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada Department of Geography, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Kaberi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH