The association of neighborhood design and recreational environments with physical activity

To determine the association of neighborhood design factors and recreational environments with physical activity.

Randomly selected adults (n = 102, 52% female, 81% white, mean age = 48 years) completed a survey of eight neighborhood design variables, convenient recreational facilities, and availability of home equipment. Physical activity was measured by self-report and 7 days of accelerometer monitoring.

Residential density and an overall environment index were significantly related to both vigorous-intensity self-reported (r = .35 and .28, respectively) and objectively measured physical activity (r = .39 and .23, respectively). Home equipment was correlated with self-reported total (r = .34) and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (r = .27). The vigorous and total activity accelerometer measures were correlated with street connectivity (r = .25 and .21, respectively).

Few self-reported neighborhood design factors and recreational environment variables were correlated with physical activity, and some findings were unexpected.