The built environment and recreational physical activity among adults in Curitiba, Brazil

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between objective measures of the built environment (BE) and recreational physical activity (PA) in adults from Curitiba, Brazil.MethodA phone survey was carried among a random sample of 1206 people. Walking during leisure time (WLT) and moderate and vigorous recreational PA (MVPA) was measured using IPAQ. Characteristics of the BE were determined in an area of 500 m surrounding respondent's homes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between recreational PA and BE.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, WLT was associated with area income level US$971.45–3341.64 vs. US$167.05–461.06 (25.7% vs. 11.1% POR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.5–4.4), having ≥ 2 gyms vs. none (26.1% vs. 12.7%, POR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.2–3.0) and distance to recreation centers, 1769.1–2835.5 km vs. 2835.6–10,212.3 km (22.1% vs. 11.0%, POR = 2.3; 95% CI = (1.0–2.5). MVPA was associated with neighborhood income US$971.45–3341.64 vs. US$167.05–461.06 (47.6% vs. 22.0% POR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.5–5.9) and having ≥ 2 gyms vs. none (41.7% vs. 26.0%, POR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.11–2.1).ConclusionThe presence of some recreational facilities for PA was associated with recommended levels of PA during leisure time in Curitiba, Brazil.