Evidence from Western countries suggests that built environmental attributes can influence the physical activity participation in adults, but whether or not this is the case for Chinese is unknown. Also, the strength of the relationship of environment to physical activity may differ by age group. The present study examined age-related differences in associations between perceived neighborhood environment and walking in Chinese women dwelling in Beijing. Cross-sectional data were collected through an internet-based survey. Total of 737 women aged 30 to 59 years responded. All of them were then divided into three groups based on the age: aged from 30-39, from 40-49 and from 50-59. In addition to socio demographic information, the perceived neighborhood environment was measured by Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale Questionnaire, and their walking time per week was collected through International Physical Activity Questionnaire. To measure relationship between perceived neighborhood environment and walking time, partial correlations were computed, adjusting for socio demographics. Walking time was significantly related to residential density in aged 40-49 years, and land use mix-access, walking/cycling facilities, traffic safety variables in aged 50-59 years. The present study indicates that there would be differences in associations between neighborhood attributes by age-groups. Future, public health promotion of walking activity and the design of interventions need to consider the contribution of neighborhood level built environment influences.

Background Psychological, social, and environmental factors are important determinants for physical activity promotion. There are numerous studies of the direct effects of these factors on physical activity. However, only a few studies have been examined the direct and mediated effects of these factors on physical activity.Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect influences of psychological, social, and environmental factors on physical activity among Japanese adults.Methods An internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to 2,000 Japanese adults aged 20-79 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (e. g., gender, age, and marital status), self-efficacy, pros and cons, social support for exercise and environmental variables (home fitness equipment, access to facilities, neighborhood safety, aesthetics, seeing others exercising) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The physical activity was estimated from the Japanese version of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling by gender.Results The respondents' mean (SD) age was 43.6(13.0). Environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through self-efficacy, social support and pros and cons. On both gender, the strongest indirect effects was the path of environmental factors on physical activity through pros to self-efficacy. The total effects of environmental factors on physical activity were 0.06 of males and 0.04 of females.Conclusion The results indicate that environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through psychological and social factors among Japanese adults. These results could contribute to the development of physical activity promotion strategies in Japan.

Porpose: Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for many chronic diseases. In China, inactive lifestyle is increasing yearly on Chinese adults by rapid economic development which produces their lifestyle changes. Thus, we investigated the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of meeting the physical activity recommendation among Chinese adult internet users.Methods: Data were analyzed for 1394 Chinese adults who responded an internet based cross-sectional survey. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Chinese version was used to determine whether the individuals met the physical activity recommendation (150minutes/week) on the ACSM/AHA guideline. Demographic data (gender, age, marital status, employment status, educational level, annual income level, and body mass index) were also obtained. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized.Results: Overall, 87.3% of respondents met the physical activity recommendation. Age and annual income were significantly associated with meeting the physical activity recommendation. Women aged 40-49 years were more likely to meet the physical activity recommendation than those aged 30-39 years (OR = 2.12). Women with annual incomes of 40000∼50000 Yuan were more likely to meet the physical activity recommendation than those with annual incomes of 30000 Yuan or less (OR = 2.40).Conclusion: The high prevalence rate and different socio-demographic correlates of meeting physical activity recommendation were observed among Chinese adults compared with these in developed countries. Specific strategies accounting for such socio-demographic correlates may be needed for effectively promoting physical activity among Chinese adults.

Engaging in physical activity was proved to have positive effects on physical and mental health in children. Built environment is an important correlate of physical activity participation. School recess provides a daily opportunity for children to be active during school day. Therefore, the purpose of the present article was to review literatures regarding 1) physical activity during school recess, 2) the relationship between recess physical activity and school physical environment, 3) intervention for physical activity promotion during recess by changing school physical environment, and to explore trends of current researches and assignments of future research. A review was conducted and included studies published to May 31, 2011. Twenty-two studies were selected in 1) and showed boys often engaged in more physical activity than girls, but the results on differences in physical activity between ages were inconsistent. Six studies were selected in 2) and indicated recess physical activity was associated with playground environments such as equipments, marking, and surface situate. School environment intervention was observed to be a potential method for promoting physical activity in children by 8 studies in 3). Playground environment with marking, additional play equipments, and designated activity zones increased physical activity during recess. Most researches regarding recess physical activity was conducted in U.S., Australia, and Western countries, and confirmed the effectiveness of recess to promote physical activity. However, few studies on this topic were conducted in Japan. Further researches are needed to draw a conclusion about the possibility of recess to promote physical activity among Japanese children.

Background: Understanding the long-term effects of environment on health behavior is important for the promotion of population-based physical activity.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived environment and active commuting among Japanese adults.Methods: Internet-based cross-sectional survey were conducted to 3,000 Japanese adults aged 30-59 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (gender, age, marital status, employment status, living status, educational attainment and household income), type of commute and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environment Module were assessed by self-administered questionnaire.Results: Of all respondents to the survey, 2,032 (mean age: 43.8±9.2, male: 62.5%) were employed. Those who use an active commute were 1,401 (68.9%). In both genders, high residential density (male: OR=2.28, female: OR=3.08), good access to shops (OR=2.03, 3.06), public transportation (OR=1.65, 3.78), recreational facilities (OR=1.31, 1.44), presence of sidewalks (OR=1.42, 1.77), crossroads (OR=1.87, 1.76), having a destination (OR=1.84, 2.34), and not having household vehicles (OR=15.13, 41.24) were associated with an active commute. The results indicated some gender differences. Among male, the presence of a bicycle lane and good aesthetics was positively associated with the active commute, while traffic safety was negatively associated. On the other hand, crime safety was associated with the active commute in female.Conclusion: The results indicate that perceived environment was associated with the active commute among Japanese adults.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations of replacing accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior (SB) with physical activity (PA) and depression in a sample of Japanese frail older adults using an Isotemporal Substitution (IS) model. Among 139 frail older adults, accelerometer was utilized to identify the daily average time spent in SB, light-intensity PA (LPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA). Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Version-Japanese (GDS-S-J). The relationship between SB, LPA, and MVPA with depression was examined with three models of multiple regression analysis: single factor model, partition model, and IS model. As results, LPA times was negatively associated with GDS-S-J scores in the single factor model (B = -0.09, p = 0.007) and the partition model (B = -0.13, p < 0.001). In the IS model, replacement of 10 minutes of SB with an equal amount of LPA time showed a significant negative association with GDS-S-J scores (B = -0.09, p=0.003). These results suggest that replacing a small amount of SB with LPA may be associated with an improvement in depression in frail older adults.