The influence of the macro-environment on physical activity: a multilevel analysis of 38 countries worldwide

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Anton E Kunst¹  Tommy LS Visscher³  Margot I Witvliet¹  Jizzo R Bosdriesz² 

[1] Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, the Netherlands;Section Prevention and Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands;EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

关键词: World Health Survey;    Multilevel analysis;    Environment;    Physical activity;   

Others  :  811845
DOI  :  10.1186/1479-5868-9-110

 received in 2012-01-20, accepted in 2012-08-30,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

As indicated by the ANGELO framework and similar models, various environmental factors influence population levels of physical activity (PA). To date attention has focused on the micro-level environment, while evidence on the macro-level environment remains scarce and mostly limited to high-income countries. This study aims to investigate whether environmental factors at macro-level are associated with PA among a broader range of countries.

Methods

Data from the World Health Survey (WHS) was used to analyze 177,035 adults from 38 (mostly low and middle income) countries. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-S) was used to measure PA. Respondents were classified as active or inactive for vigorous PA, moderate PA and walking. Multilevel logistic regression was performed to assess associations between macro-level environmental factors and the prevalence of PA, with control for individual-level socioeconomic factors.

Results

The prevalence of PA varied widely between countries and types of PA (5.0%-93.8%). A negative association was found between gross domestic product and PA, odds ratios for men were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for moderate PA and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.63-0.98) for walking. A higher temperature was associated with less PA (all types) and higher urbanization was associated with less vigorous and moderate PA. More gender equality was also associated with more walking for women. Governmental functioning and literacy rate were not found to be associated with any type of PA.

Conclusions

This exploratory study indicates that factors such as climate, economic development and cultural factors are determinants of the level of overall PA at national levels. This underlines the suggestion that the macro-environment should be regarded as an important influence on PA.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Bosdriesz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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