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Abstract Despite associations found between physical activity and depression, and the built environment and physical activity, there appears to be inconclusive evidence regarding the role of built environment attributes with preventing depression among the elderly. This is mainly because few studies exist on this topic. In addition, the majority of existing studies have been conducted in Western countries; and there is a dearth of studies in other regions, where the built, social, and cultural environment is different than Western countries. Using data from Japanese older adults, this study examined the associations between objectively-assessed built environment attributes and depressive symptoms. We examined these associations stratified by gender, since research has well-documented gender differences in depression. Data were from 328 older adults living in Japan. Built environment attributes were objectively calculated and Walk Score ® ratings were obtained from the website. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the GDS-15. Gender-stratified regression models were used to estimate the associations. We found that a walkable environment characterized by a high population density and proximate local destinations to be supportive for a better mental health among older adults, in particular for women. These findings suggest that walkable built environment attributes may influence depression among older women in an Asian urban context. This study contributed to the literature by examining how walkable urban design may influence elderly's depression in a setting with extreme level of environmental attributes. Investing in urban design to promote walkability may help in reducing the observed gender gap in depression in the Japanese population. Highlights • Urban design attributes were associated with older adults' depression among women. • High population density and proximate destinations supported better mental health. • Walkable environment may influence depression among women in an Asian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To gather and synthesize current evidence on the associations between aspects of friendship networks (e.g., friends' dietary behavior, popularity) and an individual's dietary behavior among children and adolescents. Methods A systematic search of six scientific online databases was conducted in August 2013. Eligible studies included child or adolescent participants (aged 6 to 18 years), a measure of each participant's friendship network, and a measure of habitual dietary behavior for both the participant and the participant's nominated friend(s). Data on study design, participant characteristics, friendship networks, dietary behavior, and study outcomes were abstracted. Results From a total of 9041 articles retrieved, seven studies were included in this review. Overall, friends' unhealthy food consumption was associated with an individual's unhealthy food consumption, and this association appeared to be stronger for boys compared with girls. More popular adolescents also tended to consume more unhealthy foods. Best friends' total energy intake was correlated with an individual's total energy intake. Similarities among friends' healthy food consumption, as well as daily breakfast consumption, were inconclusive. Longitudinal evidence showed that an individual's unhealthy food consumption tended to become similar to friends' unhealthy food consumption over time. Conclusions Social network analysis in the adolescent dietary behavior literature is beginning to emerge. Results highlight friends' particular influence on unhealthy food consumption among adolescents. Focus on modeling healthy dietary behaviors among adolescent friendship group may help reduce unhealthy dietary behaviors and promote healthy weight status among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workplace spatial environment has been identified as one of the correlates of workers' active and sedentary behaviours. This study examined the associations of perceived workplace layout design with workers' active and sedentary behaviour in office workers in Japan. Participants in this study (n = 2,265) were recruited from a nationwide online survey conducted in 2019. They completed a questionnaire that assessed work-related physical activity and sedentary time. Self-reported workplace layout measures including local connectivity, overall connectivity, visibility of co-workers, and proximity of co-workers were calculated using the Office Environment and Sitting Scale questionnaire. A two-stage regression model was used for modelling physical activity and sedentary time. After adjusting all covariates, participation in work-related physical activity was positively associated with local and overall connectivity (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.28, 2.12, and OR = 1.37 95% CI 1.07, 1.74, respectively) in open-plan offices. However, the visibility and proximity of co-workers were positively associated with any work-related sedentary time in shared and open-plan offices. There was also a positive association between participation in work-related physical activity and local connectivity in shared offices (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.30, 2.72). For those participants reporting participation in work-related physical activity, there was a significant positive association between work-related physical activity and local connectivity in open-plan offices (b = 11.28 min/day, 95% CI 2.04, 20.51). Our findings provided evidence on the relevance of workplace layout design to participation and the duration of workers' active and sedentary time in the context of Japan, a country with the world's most extended working hours among adults. • Perceived workplace layout design may influence active and sedentary behaviours. • Associations between workplace layout and activity differ by workplace type. • Space syntax can be applied in designing workplaces to promote active behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigated whether associations between the neighborhood built environment and neighborhood-based physical activity (PA) varied by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. A random sample of adults (n=2006) completed telephone- and self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires captured PA, sociodemographic, and health-related characteristics. Neighborhood-based PA (MET-minutes/week) was compared across low, medium, and high walkable neighborhoods for each sociodemographic (sex, age, dependents, education, income, motor vehicle access, and dog ownership) and health-status (general health and weight status) subpopulation. With few exceptions, subpopulations residing in high walkable neighborhoods undertook more (p<0.05) neighborhood-based PA than their counterparts in less walkable neighborhoods. Improving neighborhood walkability is a potentially effective population health intervention for increasing neighborhood-based PA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: We evaluated the accuracy of the Accusplit AH120 pedometer (built-in memory) for recording step counts of children during treadmill walking against (1) observer counted steps and (2) concurrently measured steps using the previously validated Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometer. Design: This was a cross-sectional validation study performed under controlled settings. Methods: Forty five 9–12-year-olds walked on treadmills at speeds of 42, 66 and 90m/min to simulate slow, moderate and fast walking wearing Accusplit and Yamax pedometers concurrently on their right hip. Observer counted steps were captured by video camera and manually counted. Absolute value of percent error was calculated for each comparison. Bland–Altman plots were constructed to show the distribution of the individual (criterion-comparison) scores around zero. Results: Both pedometers under-recorded observer counted steps at all three walk speeds. Absolute value of percent error was highest at the slowest walk speed (Accusplit=46.9%; Yamax=44.1%) and lowest at the fastest walk speed (Accusplit=8.6%; Yamax=8.9%). Bland–Altman plots showed high agreement between the pedometers for all three walk speeds. Conclusions: Using pedometers with built-in memory capabilities eliminates the need for children to manually log step counts daily, potentially improving data accuracy and completeness. Step counts from the Accusplit (built-in memory) and Yamax (widely used) pedometers were comparable across all speeds, but their level of accuracy was dependent on walking pace. Pedometers should be used with caution in children as they significantly undercount steps, and this error is greatest at slower walk speeds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the association between objectively-assessed neighborhood walkability and local walking among adults. Two independent random cross-sectional samples of Calgary (Canada) residents were recruited. Neighborhood-based walking, attitude towards walking, neighborhood self-selection, and socio-demographic characteristics were captured. Built environmental attributes underwent a two-staged cluster analysis which identified three neighborhood types (HW: high walkable; MW: medium walkable; LW: low walkable). Adjusting for all other characteristics, MW (OR 1.40, p<0.05) and HW (OR 1.34, approached p<0.05) neighborhood residents were more likely than LW neighborhood residents to participate in neighborhood-based transportation walking. HW neighborhood residents spent 30-min/wk more on neighborhood-based transportation walking than both LW and MW neighborhood residents. MW neighborhood residents spent 14-min/wk more on neighborhood-based recreational walking than LW neighborhood residents. Neighborhoods with a highly connected pedestrian network, large mix of businesses, high population density, high access to sidewalks and pathways, and many bus stops support local walking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Given that recent literature reviews on physical activity in urban parks deliberately excluded qualitative findings, we reviewed qualitative research on this topic informed by a published classification scheme based on quantitative research. Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies relied mainly on semi-structured interviews with individuals or in focus groups; only five studies involved in situ observation. Our synthesis aligns with previous quantitative research showing that attributes including safety, aesthetics, amenities, maintenance, and proximity are important for encouraging park use. Furthermore, our synthesis of qualitative research suggests that perceptions of the social environment entwine inextricably with perceptions of the physical environment. If so, physical attributes of parks as well as perceptions of these attributes (formed in relation to broader social contexts) may influence physical activity patterns. Both qualitative and quantitative methods provide useful information for interpreting such patterns, and in particular, when designing and assessing interventions intended to improve the amount and intensity of physical activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Most walkability indices do not capture the topological structure of urban forms. Space syntax models these topological relationships. We estimated associations between the space syntax measure of street integration and walkability (SSW) and neighborhood-specific leisure (LW) and transportation (TW) walking among 4422 Canadian adults. Street integration and SSW were found to be positively associated with TW and LW participation in a usual week. A one-unit increase in SSW was associated with a 6-min increase in usual weekly minutes of TW. Street integration and SSW were also positively associated with TW participation in the last week. Higher street integration and walkability conceptualized using space syntax support neighborhood walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet-facilitated physical activity interventions are becoming more common. A better understanding about the barriers and facilitators experienced by participants is needed to improve the delivery and effectiveness of these types of interventions. Our study explored perceived individual, social, and physical environment characteristics that hinder or facilitate physical activity among previously "inactive" adults during a 12-week internet-facilitated pedometer intervention. Qualitative Study (qualitative description). Twenty-three participants (82.6% women; ages 24–68 years) who registered for the 12-week internet-facilitated pedometer intervention (UWALK) participated in telephone-administered semi-structured interviews. Interview questions explored perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity during the UWALK intervention. Participants were purposefully sampled to represent various levels of engagement with UWALK. The experiences shared by participants were represented by four themes including: creating (in)activity awareness; commitment to physical activity; incorporating activity for transportation, and; importance of nature and changing scenery. Wearing the pedometer and recording their daily steps made participants more aware about time being sedentary. Moreover, participants developed strategies to help achieve their step goals. Active transportation was frequently mentioned as an effective way of increasing daily steps, and access to nature or beautiful scenery encouraged more physical activity. Perceived individual and environmental factors contribute to participants' ability to engage in UWALK and physical activity. Providing participants enrolled in internet-facilitated pedometer interventions with strategies for overcoming barriers, instructions for exploring their local environments, and approaches for incorporating active transportation into daily routines, may improve adherence and, ultimately, increase physical activity. • Wearing pedometers increased awareness of participant's current physical activity. • Tracking pedometer steps motivated UWALK participants to be physically active. • Individual and environmental factors influenced engagement in UWALK. • Destinations, nature, and pathways supported physical activity during UWALK. • Garbage, the homeless, and off-leash dogs hindered physical activity during UWALK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this interdisciplinary article, we provided an evidence-based discussion on the role of the supportive built environment on cancer prevention. We also extended the theoretical thinking on the built environment-cancer links by raising possible equality challenges. Following the recent call in population-level interventions in cancer prevention, our aim is to encourage readers to think about the important potentials and limitations that are raised from the point of view of the supportive built environments in relation to cancer prevention. We focus on the key links between the built environment and cancer prevention strategies (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and discuss ways in which the built environment may reflect and contribute to inequalities in cancer. • The built environment can directly and indirectly impact cancer rates. • Different cancers may have the same but also different built environment determinants. • The science of how to change the built environment to improve cancer health is in its infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program (BC FMNCP) provides households with low incomes with coupons to purchase healthy foods from farmers' markets. To examine the impact of the BC FMNCP on the short-term household food insecurity, malnutrition risk, mental well-being, sense of community (secondary outcomes), and subjective social status (exploratory outcome) of adults with low incomes post-intervention and 16 weeks post-intervention. Secondary analyses from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial conducted in 2019 that collected data at baseline, post-intervention, and 16 weeks post-intervention. Adults ≥18 years with low incomes were randomized to an FMNCP group (n = 143) or a no-intervention control group (n = 142). Participants in the FMNCP group received 16 coupon sheets valued at $21 Canadian dollars (CAD)/sheet over 10 to 15 weeks to purchase healthy foods from farmers' markets and were eligible to participate in nutrition skill-building activities. Outcomes included short-term household food insecurity (modified version of Health Canada's 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module), malnutrition risk (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool), mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale), sense of community (Brief Sense of Community Scale), and subjective social status (MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status community scale). Mixed-effects linear regression and multinomial logistic regression examined between-group differences in outcomes post-intervention and 16 weeks post-intervention. The risk of marginal and severe short-term household food insecurity was lower among those in the FMNCP group compared with those in the control group (relative risk ratio [RRR] 0.15, P = 0.01 and RRR 0.16, P = 0.02) post-intervention, with sustained reductions in severe household food insecurity 16 weeks post-intervention (RRR 0.11, P = 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in malnutrition risk, mental well-being, sense of community, or subjective social status post-intervention or 16 weeks post-intervention. The BC FMNCP reduced short-term household food insecurity but was not found to improve malnutrition risk or psychosocial well-being among adults with low incomes compared with a no-intervention control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study explored children''s activity spaces. In 2007, children aged 10–12 years (n=1480) completed a survey and mapping activity, and wore a pedometer for seven days. Their parents completed a survey (n=1314). Over half traveled <25% of their ‘neighborhood’, defined as 800m and 1600m network buffers. More local destinations (boys β=−0.022; girls β=−0.013) and parent report of living on a busy road (girls β=−0.43) were associated with smaller activity spaces whereas being independently mobile resulted in larger (girls β=0.28) ones. Traditionally defined neighborhoods may not reflect children''s movements. Freedom, fewer local destinations and traffic safety may be important for increasing spatial ranges. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Few studies examine associations between objectively-calculated neighbourhood built environment attributes and objectively-assessed sedentary behaviour in different geographical locations, especially in highly-populated environments. Additionally, no study, to our knowledge, has investigated associations between objective measures of neighbourhood built environment attributes and objectively-assessed sedentary behaviours in middle-aged adults, despite the fact that this is a critical stage of life when age-related functional decline begins. We examined the associations between neighbourhood built environment attributes with the total, and patterns of, objectively-assessed sedentary behaviours in a densely-populated area in Asia. Data from 866 adults (ages 40 to 64) living in Japan were included. Four classifications of sedentary behaviours, including daily total sedentary time, duration and number of long (≥30 min) sedentary bouts and breaks per sedentary hour, were estimated using hip-worn accelerometers. Individual (population density, availability of destinations, number of intersections, and distance to the nearest park) and composite (walkability and Walk Score®) neighbourhood built environment indices were calculated using geographic information systems. Covariate-adjusted multilevel linear mixed effects models were used to estimate the associations between the neighbourhood built environment attributes and sedentary behaviours. Population density and availability of destinations were positively associated with sedentary behaviours; however, the number of intersections was negatively associated with sedentary behaviours. No associations were observed between the distance to the nearest park and sedentary behaviours. There were positive associations between walkability and total sedentary time, and duration and the number of long sedentary bouts. Walk Score® was positively associated with total sedentary time and the number of long sedentary bouts. These findings suggest that urban design attributes supportive of walking (except for the number of intersections) may encourage sedentary behaviour among middle-aged adults living in densely-populated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimated the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and self-reported body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) risk categories among Canadian men and women. Using data from the Alberta's Tomorrow Project (n = 14,550), we estimated 3- and 4-way intersections, business destinations, population count, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 400 m radius of participant's home. Intersections, business destinations, and population count (z-scores) were summed to create a walkability score. Four-way intersections and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Walkability was negatively associated with obesity. NDVI was negatively associated with high-risk WHR and population count and walkability positively associated with high-risk WHR. Among men, population count and walkability were negatively associated with obesity, and business destinations and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Among women, NDVI was negatively associated with overweight (including obesity), obesity, and high-risk WC. Interventions promoting healthy weight could incorporate strategies that take into consideration local built environment characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]