Association between built environment and moderate to vigorous physical activity in Korean adults: a multilevel...

Research on the association between the built environment and moderate and vigorous physical activities (MVPA) is still evolving. Therefore, more evidence is needed. This study examines the relationship between built environment and MVPA in Korean adults.

A large sample of 204 324 adults from the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) was analyzed. MVPA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Individual correlates from the KCHS and community built environment data from the Korean government were collected. A multilevel logistic regression was performed using the GLIMMIX procedure.

Residents in cities (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.93) and districts (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.94) were less likely to engage in MVPA than residents in counties. While residents in communities with the least amount of physical equipment were less likely to participate in MVPA (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.90), residents in communities with the second smallest area of open space for PA were more likely to be active (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.07-1.77). The effect of built environment on MVPA was significant but relatively weak in comparison to the influence of individual correlates.

To improve MVPA in adults, a community built environment should be considered along with individual correlates.