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Summary Background & aims A limited number of studies have developed simple anthropometric equations that can be implemented for predicting muscle mass in the local community. Several studies have suggested calf circumference as a simple and accurate surrogate maker for muscle mass. We aimed to develop and cross-validate a simple anthropometric equation, which incorporates calf circumference, to predict appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Furthermore, we conducted a comparative validity assessment of our equation with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and two previously reported equations using similar variables. Methods ASM measurements were recorded for 1262 participants (837 men, 425 women) aged 40 years or older. Participants were randomly divided into the development or validation group. Stepwise multiple linear regression was applied to develop the DXA-measured ASM prediction equation. Parameters including age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, and calf circumference were incorporated as predictor variables. Total error was calculated as the square root of the sum of the square of the difference between DXA-measured and predicted ASMs divided by the total number of individuals. Results The most optimal ASM prediction equation developed was: ASM (kg) = 2.955 × sex (men = 1, women = 0) + 0.255 × weight (kg) − 0.130 × waist circumference (cm) + 0.308 × calf circumference (cm) + 0.081 × height (cm) − 11.897 (adjusted R2 = 0.94, standard error of the estimate = 1.2 kg). Our equation had smaller total error and higher intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values than those for BIA and two previously reported equations, for both men and women (men, total error = 1.2 kg, ICC = 0.91; women, total error = 1.1 kg, ICC = 0.80). The correlation between DXA-measured ASM and predicted ASM by the present equation was not significantly different from the correlation between DXA-measured ASM and BIA-measured ASM. Conclusions The equation developed in this study can predict ASM more accurately as compared to equations where calf circumference is used as the sole variable and previously reported equations; it holds potential as a reliable and an effective substitute for estimating ASM.

We aimed to examine the relationship between the fat-free mass index (FFMI; FFM/heightCross-sectional study.This study included 1313 adults (women, 33.6%) aged 40-87 years (mean age, 55 ± 10 years) from the WASEDA'S Health Study.Body composition was measured using multifrequency BIA and DXA. Low muscle mass was defined according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019.BIA-measured FFMI showed strong positive correlations with both BIA- (r = 0.96) and DXA-measured (r = 0.95) ASMIs. Similarly, in the subgroup analysis according to age and obesity, the FFMI was correlated with the ASMI. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for screening low muscle mass defined by DXA-measured ASMI using BIA-measured FFMI values were 0.95 (95% CI 0.93-0.97) for men and 0.91 (95% CI 0.87-0.94) for women. The optimal BIA-measured FFMI cutoff values for screening low muscle mass defined by DXA-measured ASMI were 17.5 kg/mThe FFMI showed a strong positive correlation with BIA- and DXA-measured ASMIs, regardless of age and obesity. The FFMI could be a useful simple surrogate marker of the ASMI for low muscle mass screening in sarcopenia in community settings. The suggested FFMI cutoff values for predicting low muscle mass are18 kg/m

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.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between dietary patterns and abdominal obesity among middle-aged and elderly Japanese people, using both waist circumference (WC) and visceral fat (VF) as indices. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 829 adults (534 men and 295 women), 40 to 79 y of age, who participated in the Waseda Alumni's Sports, Exercise, Daily Activity, Sedentariness and Health Study (WASEDA'S Health Study). Dietary patterns were derived from principal component analysis. VF was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. To examine the associations of each dietary pattern with WC and VF, we calculated multivariate-adjusted means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of WC and VF for the tertile of each dietary pattern score. Results Two main dietary patterns were identified: “healthy Japanese” and “seafood and alcohol.” The healthy Japanese dietary pattern score was inversely associated with WC and VF in men only. WC measurements were 84.9 cm (95% CI, 83.7–86.1), 83.9 cm (95% CI, 82.7–85.1), and 82.4 cm (95% CI, 81.2–83.6); P trend = 0.006, and VF measurements were 94.0 cm 2 (95% CI, 85.6–102.4), 89.4 cm 2 (95% CI, 81.1–97.7), and 80.4 cm 2 (95% CI, 72.5–88.4); P trend = 0.027 for the lowest through the highest tertile of healthy Japanese dietary pattern scores in men. The seafood and alcohol dietary pattern was not associated with WC and VF. Conclusion The healthy Japanese dietary pattern was negatively associated with WC and VF in middle-aged and elderly Japanese men.

In the context of rapid urbanization, public open spaces in dense urban areas are critical built environment elements to support active lifestyles. Several reviews have explored the associations of public open space attributes with physically active and sedentary behavior. However, few reviews have included studies from Asia, and no studies have focused on dense urban areas. This systematic review analyzed 18 observational studies investigating associations between public open space attributes with physical activity and sedentary behavior in dense urban areas of East Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. We found that closer distance to and a greater number of public open spaces and features within them were positively associated with leisure-time physical activity. Places near water features and corridors within public open spaces were associated with more sedentary behavior. These findings inform landscape and urban design guidelines for (re)designing public open spaces to support active lifestyles in high dense urban areas.

Office spatial design can affect the way workers move and interact in the workplace, which can have implications for health and productivity. This systematic review examined office spatial design attributes associated with sitting and face-to-face interactions (FTFIs) at work. The initial search using six databases (Art and Architecture Source; Business Source Complete; Ergonomics Abstracts; PubMed; Scopus; Web of Science) produced 2016 articles. After screening, 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Of these, nine studies examined sitting, 10 studies examined FTFIs, and one study examined both. The following five design attributes were identified in these studies: office type; shared space; spatial layout; proximity of co-workers; and visibility of co-workers. Overall, the review found some evidence of office spatial attributes associated with workplace sitting or FTFIs. The studies reviewed suggested that workers in open-plan offices appear to have shorter overall sitting time and shorter bouts of sitting, compared to those in closed offices. Better visibility of workers was associated with shorter bouts of sitting. It was also found that proximity to co-workers was related to more frequent and longer FTFIs. These findings suggest that open-plan offices without visual barriers support shorter total sitting time and more frequent breaks of sitting. FTFIs are more likely to happen among workers whose workstations are close to each other. The review identified several gaps in the literature and proposed a research agenda to help advance the understanding of how to modify office spaces to encourage workers’ movement and interactions.

Walk Score® is a free publicly-available tool that evaluates how a particular location is supportive of residents' walking, based on the distance to various local destinations. Several studies have shown associations of Walk Score with walking behaviors. However, these studies have been conducted only in Western countries, such as the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, and France. In addition, the role of Walk Score in sedentary behaviors has not yet been explored. The current study examined associations of Walk Score with physically-active and sedentary behaviors in Japan. This study used cross-sectional survey data from the Healthy Built Environment in Japan (HEBEJ) project. In 2011, adults living in urban and rural areas in Japan (n = 1072) reported their walking and sedentary behaviors. Participants reported their walking in the past week for three specific purposes: for commuting; for errands; and for exercise. They also reported two sedentary behaviors in the past week: TV viewing and car driving. Walk Score was obtained manually for each participant's residential address. Logistic regression models (adjusted for covariates) were used to examine the associations of Walk Score with specific walking and sedentary behaviors. There were significant positive associations of Walk Score with two types of walking and car driving. Each 10-point increment in Walk Score (range: 0–97) was associated with a 34% (95%CI: 1.25, 1.42) higher odds of any walking for commuting; a 6% (95%CI: 1.01, 1.11) higher odds of any walking for errands; a 36% (95%CI: 1.23, 1.50) higher odds of sufficient walking for commuting; and, a 10% (95%CI: 0.83, 0.97) lower odds of driving a car for more than one hour per day. This study found for the first time that Walk Score was related to travel behaviors in a non-Western country. Walk Score can be useful to transport and urban designers in identifying local areas that support (or do not support) residents' active travel, and can help to inform broader environmental and urban design policy initiatives to promote active living.

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.

A rapidly growing body of literature has explored associations between urban design attributes, which are conducive to walking, and social capital. The current study aimed to build on the limitations of previous research. Specifically, this study estimated the associations between traditional and novel walkable built environment metrics and social capital among a sample of adults in Japan. Data (n = 1010) from a randomly selected cross-section of residents (40–69 years old) from two areas in Japan were included. Social capital was assessed by questionnaires. Several objective and perceived walkable built environment attributes were calculated. Covariate-adjusted multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate associations between neighborhood built attributes and the three social capital scores. Street connectivity was negatively associated with activities with neighbors (b = -0.21, 95% CI -0.31, -0.11). Perceived population density was negatively associated with all three social capital scores, including social cohesion, activities with neighbors, and social participation (b = -0.21, 95% CI -0.30, -0.11, b = -0.15, 95% CI -0.24, -0.06, and b = -0.16, 95% CI -0.29, -0.02, respectively). Traditional walkability and Walk Score® were negatively associated with activities with neighbors (b = -0.04, 95% CI -0.07, -0.00 and b = -0.09, 95% CI -0.15, -0.04, respectively). No significant associations were observed between perceived walkability and social capital scores. Space syntax walkability was negatively associated with social cohesion and activities with neighbors (b = -0.12, 95% CI -0.23, -0.01 and b = -0.11, 95% CI -0.21, -0.01, respectively). This study provided unique findings demonstrating that walkable built environments may not necessarily support social capital in ultrahigh-density Asian cities.

Background Neighborhood environmental attributes can promote walking behavior among older adults. Nevertheless, these walkability attributes may affect walking behavior differently depending on the time of the day. This study examined the association between neighborhood environmental attributes and average step counts at different times of the day. Methods We included 122 older adults (aged ≥ 60 years, mean age: 70.0 years) from Taiwan in this study. Neighborhood environmental attributes were estimated using a geographic information system. An accelerometer was used to calculate their daily step counts during three time periods: morning (6:00 to 12:00), afternoon (12:01 to 18:00), and night (18:01 to 24:00). In this cross-sectional study, we performed multiple linear regression after adjustment for potential covariates to examine the correlation of five walkability attributes, namely residential density, street connectivity, sidewalk availability, destination accessibility, and public transportation accessibility, with total step counts during different time periods. Results Sidewalk availability, destination accessibility, and public transportation accessibility demonstrated a positive association with older adults' step counts during morning. No association was found between any neighborhood environment attribute and older adults’ total step count during afternoon and night. Conclusions Neighborhoods with high sidewalk availability, access to destinations, and public transportation accessibility may encourage older adults' walking behavior during morning. Future research applying longitudinal methods is required to understand how the time of the day affects environment's role in supporting walking behavior.

Highlights • Walk Score® was positively correlated with several perceived walkable environmental attributes. • There was a large correlation between Walk Score® and access to shops. • There was a medium correlation between Walk Score® and overall perceived walkability., Walk Score® is a free web-based tool that provides a walkability score for any given location. A limited number of North American studies have found associations between Walk Score® and perceived built environment attributes, yet it remains unknown whether similar associations exist in Asian countries. The study’s objective is to examine the covariate-adjusted correlations between the Walk Score® metric and measures of the perceived built environment in ultrahigh density areas of Japan. Cross-sectional data were obtained from a randomly selected sample of adult residents living in two Japanese urban localities. There was a large correlation between Walk Score® and access to shops (0.58; p

Highlights • Japanese adults spent on average 5.3 h each day sedentary. • Compared to other countries, more adults were found to be highly sedentary in Japan. • High sedentary time was associated with several sociodemographic characteristics., Sedentary behaviour is associated with risks of detrimental health outcomes. It is crucial to understand how much time people spend in sedentary behaviour and what factors affect too much sedentary time for effective intervention. However, few studies examined the prevalence and the correlates of sedentary behaviour in Japan. Therefore, we assessed total sedentary time and its sociodemographic correlates using a nationally representative sample of adults in Japan. Cross-sectional data from Sports-Life Survey in 2016 and 2018 conducted by Sasagawa Sports Foundation was used. Participants’ sociodemographic factors and total sedentary time were collected by questionnaires. We classified those with

We examined whether street layout -a key urban design element- is associated with walking and sedentary behaviors in the context of a non-Western country; and, whether such associations differ between an urban and a rural area. In 2011, 1076 middle-to-older aged adults living in an urban and a rural area of Japan reported their walking and sedentary (sitting) behaviors. Two objective measures of street layout (intersection density and street integration) were calculated. Participants exposed to more-connected street layouts were more likely to walk for commuting and for errands, to meet physical activity recommendations through walking for commuting, and less likely to drive. These relationships differed between the urban and the rural area. This shows that previous findings from Western countries on associations of street connectivity with travel behaviors may also be applicable to Japan.

Deterioration of daily activities increases frailty risk. Most of the previous research has examined the association between frailty and specific activities; nevertheless, the diversity of daily activities is also important. Although the type, frequency, and evenness of daily activities have been proposed as indicators of activity diversity, the association between these indicators and frailty remains unclear. In this study, we examined the association between activity diversity and frailty in community-dwelling older adults.This cross-sectional study comprised 658 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years who participated in comprehensive health check-ups in 2018. Frailty was defined using the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Three indicators, type, frequency, and evenness of daily activities, were used to assess activity diversity across one week. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, with frailty as the dependent variable and the three activity diversity indicators as independent variables. Socio-demographic, physical, and mental functioning factors were adjusted as covariates.Of the 658 participants (median age: 72 years; age range: 65-91 years; 60.5% women), 27 (4.1%) met the criteria for frailty. The frail group had significantly lower scores for type, frequency, and evenness of daily activities, as well as Mini-Mental State Examination scores (all at p0.01). We found significant independent associations in all activity diversity indicators with frailty, in multiple logistic models.Activity diversity is independently associated with frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Background : Preventing social isolation is essential for promoting healthy aging. This study aims to 1) systematically review and synthesize the predictors of objectively measured social isolation from observational studies that have treated isolation as an outcome in community-dwelling older adults, and 2) overview previous studies in this area and reveal an agenda to develop future research. Methods : Peer-reviewed primary studies published in English or Japanese were identified from PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, Igaku-Chuo-Zasshi, and CiNii. We followed the PRISMA statement. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results : Of the 1,161 studies identified, 10 were included in the review. Most studies were cross-sectional and published in the past 20 years. The risk of bias score ranged from 3 to 6 for the individual studies, indicating a moderate to high risk. The assessment measures for social isolation and proportion of isolated subjects varied greatly across studies. Findings on the predictors of social isolation from each study were clustered into four categories: socio-demographic factors, physical health factors, psychological and cognitive factors, and social and cultural factors. Conclusions : It was difficult to confirm these predictors conclusively because of the cross-sectional study design and a huge variety of assessment tools for social isolation. This result suggests the need to build consensus on the appropriate scales and standard cut-off points for assessing social isolation. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are urgently required. When considering predictors of social isolation, it is also essential to consider the regional and ethnic background of the samples studied.

Background There is little information on the association of sarcopenia with physical activity in elderly cardiac patients. This study determined differences in physical activity and cutoff values for physical activity according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia in elderly male cardiac patients. Methods and results Sixty-seven consecutive men aged ≥65 years with cardiac disease were enrolled. We defined sarcopenia using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People algorithm. Patients were divided into the sarcopenia group ( n =25) and the non-sarcopenia group ( n =42). In the patients with and without sarcopenia of physical activities were evaluated to determine cutoff values of physical activity. Results After adjusting for patient characteristics, both the average daily number of steps (3361.43±793.23 vs. 5991.55±583.57 steps, P =0.021) and the average daily energy expenditure of physical activity (71.84±22.19 vs. 154.57±16.18kcal, P =0.009) were significantly lower in the sarcopenia versus non-sarcopenia group. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis identified a cutoff value for steps of physical activity of 3551.80steps/day for 1 week, with a sensitivity of 0.73 and 1-specificity of 0.44 and a cutoff value for energy expenditure of physical activity of 85.17kcal/day for 1 week, with a sensitivity of 0.73 and 1-specificity of 0.27. Conclusions Physical activity in the male cardiac patients with sarcopenia was significantly lower than that in those without sarcopenia. The cutoff values reported here may be useful values to aid in the identification of elderly male cardiac patients with sarcopenia.

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.

As people age, they spend more time in and around their domestic environments, within which opportunities for health-enhancing physical activity (PA) may be limited. We examined the associations of frequency of excursions from home with accelerometer-determined PA and the total and prolonged sedentary behavior (SB, sitting for ≥30 min) among community-dwelling older adults.Overall, 434 older adults (men, 57.1 %; age, 70-79 years) wore an accelerometer (HJA-350IT, Omron Healthcare) for 7 days. Time spent in SB, light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and prolonged SB bout (≥30 min) were calculated. Frequencies of excursions from home were categorized as 0-3, 4-5, and 6-7 days/week. Associations of excursions with PA and SB were tested by analysis of covariance adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics.Frequencies were 14.3 %, 31.1 %, and 54.6 % for excursions 0-3, 4-5, and 6-7 days/week, respectively. For men, less frequent excursions from home were significantly associated with less MVPA and more total and prolonged SB times (estimated means [minutes/day]: MVPA, 32, 42, and 48; total SB, 589, 549, and 539; prolonged SB, 344, 288, and 265; respectively; p0.05). LPA was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). For women, less frequent excursions were significantly associated with all PA outcomes (SB: 536, 497, and 467; prolonged SB: 260, 213, and 204; LPA: 328, 363, and 379; MVPA: 36, 39, and 54, respectively).Among community-dwelling Japanese older adults, more frequent excursions from home were associated with more PA, less SB, and more-favorable SB patterns, suggesting a potential strategy for preventive-health initiatives.

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.

Objective We examined (1) cross-sectional and prospective associations of perceived and objectively-measured neighborhood attributes with purpose-specific walking; (2) the differences between cross-sectional and prospective associations in the sample of Japanese middle-to-older-aged adults. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study to collect data from 544 adults aged 40 to 69 years living in two cities in Japan in 2011 and again in 2013. Generalized linear modelling was employed to examine associations of perceived and GIS-measured built environment attributes (population density, access to destinations, access to public transportation, sidewalk, and street connectivity) with four types of self-reported purpose-specific walking, namely walking for commuting (to and from work), walking during work, walking for errands (shopping, to the bank or post office), and walking for exercise. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, GIS-measured higher population density and better street connectivity were associated with increased time spent walking for commuting and exercise. Furthermore, GIS-measured better access to public transportation was related to increased time spent walking for commuting, and perceived better access to destinations was also associated with increased time spent walking for commuting and daily errands. Unexpectedly, GIS-measured better access to destinations, and perceived sidewalk presence were related to decreased time spent in work-related walking. Conclusion Living in high-density neighborhoods with well-connected streets and convenient public transportation systems, and having a higher awareness of destinations are supportive of the long-term engagement in walking for various purposes. Further studies using a prospective design with longer follow-up period to confirm these results are warranted.

There is a dearth of evidence about how high-density living may influence dog-walking behaviour. We examined associations between neighbourhood built environment attributes and dog-ownership and dog-walking behaviour in Japan. Data from 1058 participants were used. The dog-ownership was 18.8%. All neighbourhood built attributes (excluding availability of parks) were negatively associated with dog-ownership. Among dog-owners, these same attributes were positively associated with any dog-walking in a usual week and with achieving 150-min per week of physical activity through dog-walking alone. These findings provided evidence on the importance of neighbourhood built environment attributes on dog-ownership and dog-walking behaviour in dense and compact areas. The urban design and public health implication of these findings is that the built environment attributes in high-density living areas may have different impacts on dog-ownership and dog-walking: while living in a walkable neighbourhood may not be conducive to dog-ownership, it may support dog-walking in such areas. Programs targeting dog-owners in high-density areas might be needed to encourage them to walk their dogs more. If successful, these programs could contribute to higher physical activity levels among dog-owners.

Objective: Leisure-time sedentary behaviors (LTSBs) have been associated adversely with health outcomes. However, limited research has focused on different categories of LTSB. We aimed at identifying categories of LTSBs and examining their separate associations with indices of health among Japanese older adults. Conclusions: Two types of sedentary time-passive and mentally-active-may play different roles in older adults' well-being. Methods: A postal survey collected data on self-reported health, psychological distress, body mass index, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), LTSBs (five behaviors) and socio-demographic characteristics from 1,580 Japanese older adults (67% response rate; 65-74 years) in 2010. Exploratory factor analysis was used to classify LTSBs. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for associations of LTSB categories with self-reported health, psychological distress, overweight, and lower MVPA. Data were analyzed in 2013. Results: Two categories of LTSB: passive sedentary time (consisting of TV time, listening or talking while sitting, and sitting around) and mentally-active sedentary time (consisting of computer-use and reading books or newspapers) were identified. Higher passive sedentary time was associated with a higher odds of being overweight (OR: 1.39, [95% CI: 1.08-1.80]), and lower MVPA (1.26, [1.02-1.54]). Higher mentally-active sedentary time was associated with lower odds of lower MVPA (0.70, [0.57-0.86]). Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Street layout is consistently associated with adults' travel behaviors, however factors influencing this association are unclear. We examined associations of street layout with travel behaviors: walking for transport (WT) and car use; and, the extent to which these relationships may be accounted for by availability of local destinations. A 24-h travel diary was completed in 2009 by 16,345 adult participants of the South-East Queensland Household Travel Survey, Australia. Three travel-behavior outcomes were derived: any home-based WT; over 30 min of home-based WT; and, over 60 min of car use. For street layout, a space syntax measure of street integration was calculated for each Statistical Area 1 (SA1, the smallest geographic unit in Australia). An objective measure of availability of destinations – Walk Score – was also derived for each SA1. Logistic regression examined associ-ations of street layout with travel behaviors. Mediation analyses examined to what extent availability of destina-tions explained the associations. Street integration was significantly associated with travel behaviors. Each one-decile increment in street integra-tion was associated with an 18% (95%CI: 1.15, 1.21) higher odds of any home-based WT; a 10% (95%CI: 1.06, 1.15) higher odds of over 30 min of home-based WT; and a 5% (95%CI: 0.94, 0.96) lower odds of using a car over 60 min. Local destinations partially mediated the effects of street layout on travel behaviors. Well-connected street layout contributes to active travel partially through availability of more local destinations. Urban design strategies need to address street layout and destinations to promote active travel among residents.

Dog ownership is emerging as an important correlate of sufficient physical activity and therefore has the potential to positively affect a portion of the population. A growing body of literature indicates that dog-walking contributes to increased physical activity. However, most of the previous studies have been conducted in Australia or the U.S. and have sampled from the general adult population.This study examined the association between dog ownership, dog-walking, and physical activity in older Japanese adults.Participants were community-dwelling residents aged 65-74 years who responded to a population-based cross-sectional survey (N=1926). Physical activity, dog ownership, dog-walking, and sociodemographic attributes were self-reported (collected in 2010; analyzed in 2011). ANCOVAs and multivariate logistic regressions were used.Overall, 14.0% of older adults were dog owners, with 71% reporting that they walked their dog for an average of 308.5±300.7 minutes/week. Dog walkers reported more minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (M±SE: 241.7±27.0) and total physical activity (M±SE: 698.6±40.6) than both non-dog walkers (M±SE: 110.7±41.8; M±SE: 527.2±62.9) and non-dog owners (M±SE: 164.7±9.1; M±SE: 519.2±13.7), respectively (p0.05). Dog walkers also walked more minutes per week (M±SE: 508.0±33.4) than non-dog owners (M±SE: 384.5±11.3; p0.05). Dog walkers were more likely to be sufficiently active than both non-dog walkers and non-dog owners (p0.001).Use of dog-walking may be a potentially viable means of intervention for increasing walking and overall physical activity in older Japanese adults.

Background Depression, a common mental illness, has a high global incidence. Regular physical activity at recommended levels is inversely associated with depression; however, this association has not yet been studied in the Japanese population. The present study examines the association between recommended physical activity criteria and depression, and depression score differences between physical activity groups and sociodemographic variables among Japanese adults. Methods Sociodemographic data (gender, age, educational level, employment status, marital status, living conditions, and household income), the Japanese short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to estimate the participants’ physical activity and depression levels, respectively, via an Internet-based survey. A representative sample of 3000 Japanese adults answered the survey, stratified by gender and age. The present study followed current Japanese exercise guidelines to categorize respondents as “meeting” or “not meeting” the recommended criteria. Analysis of covariance, logistic regression, and two-way univariate analysis of covariance were performed. Results Respondents not meeting the recommendations for physical activity had significantly higher depression scores than those meeting the recommendations. Individuals not meeting the recommended criteria had significantly higher depression scores than those meeting the criteria across the following variables: age, marital status, living conditions, and household income in men; and age, marital status, education level, employment status, and household income in women. Men who were unmarried and had low household income levels and women who were young, unmarried, and had lower household income levels had higher depression scores. Conclusion The present study is one of the first studies to report on the cross-sectional associations among depression scores, physical activity levels, and various sociodemographic factors in the Japanese population.

a Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan c Department of Physical Therapy, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan d Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan e Division of Cardiology, St. Marianna University Toyoko Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan f Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan g Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA h Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan i Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan

heart failure patients Kazuhiro P. Izawa ⁎, Satoshi Watanabe , Shinobu Tochimoto , Koichiro Oka , Yuhei Otobe , Shinji Nemoto , Yasuyuki Hirano , Naohiko Osada , Kazuto Omiya , Peter H. Brubaker , Hiroyuki Shimizu g a Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0142, Japan b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan c Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan d Department of Physical Therapy, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan e Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan f Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA g Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan

failure patients Kazuhiro P. Izawa ⁎, Satoshi Watanabe , Koichiro Oka , Naohiko Osada , Kazuto Omiya , Peter H. Brubaker , Hiroyuki Shimizu e a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan b Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan c Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan d Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States e Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan

Kazuhiro P. Izawa ⁎, Satoshi Watanabe , Koichiro Oka , Koji Hiraki , Yuji Morio , Yusuke Kasahara , Naoya Takeichi , Takae Tsukamoto , Naohiko Osada , Kazuto Omiya a,d a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan b Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan c Department of Nursing, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan d Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan