Journal of physical activity & health最新文献

{"title":"The Swaying Pendulum: Factors Influencing Physical Activity Participation in Women With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.","authors":"Gabrielle C Gildea, Rosalind R Spence, Tamara L Jones, Carolina X Sandler, Nicole M McDonald, Sandra C Hayes, Melanie L Plinsinga","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0449","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0449","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical activity levels decline following diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and there is limited research investigating the factors that influence participation across the cancer continuum. The objective of this study is to explore barriers, facilitators, perceptions, and preferences of physical activity for women with recurrent ovarian cancer and to explore whether these factors change across the cancer continuum.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Women enrolled in the Exercise During Chemotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer trial were invited to participate. Semistructured interviews, guided by social cognitive theory, were conducted by 2 interviewers via video conferencing. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using an adaptive thematic approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An overarching theme, \"The swaying pendulum,\" emerged following 13 participant interviews, representing the instability of physical activity participation in women with recurrent ovarian cancer. Five themes captured factors swaying the \"pendulum\": (1) the \"priority ladder\" of physical activity and the importance of social support and the physical environment, (2) the \"hurdles\" of treatment- and disease-related side effects, (3) the power of physical activity support and advice from health professionals in the face of uncertainty and fear, (4) a \"yearning\" for the outdoors, and (5) resorting to walking.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical activity participation in women with recurrent ovarian cancer is swayed by a complex combination of internal and external factors, unique to each individual, and continually changing circumstances across the cancer continuum.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143391213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disparities in Pedestrian and Cyclist Crashes by Social Vulnerability Across South Carolina.","authors":"Shirelle H Hallum, Anna L Chupak, Kelsey M Thomas, Erin N Looney, Eleanor Witherspoon, Nathan H Huynh, Andrew T Kaczynski","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Little crash equity research has controlled for active transportation rates, examined the Southeastern United States, or used composite sociodemographic metrics. This study analyzed disparities in pedestrian and cyclist crashes and crash severity according to level of social vulnerability (SV) across South Carolina.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data about SV and its 4 dimensions (socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and language, and housing type and transportation) were compiled for all census tracts (N = 1103) within South Carolina. Data for all crashes involving a pedestrian (n = 10,688) and/or cyclist (n = 4802) from 2011 to 2021 were obtained from the South Carolina Department of Transportation and geocoded to the respective census tract. Total average pedestrian and cyclist crash severity (Equivalent Property Damage Only) were also calculated for each tract. Crash frequency and severity scores were adjusted using the average number of walking and cycling trips in the census tract per year using StreetLight Data. Mixed-model linear regression analyzed the relationships between overall SV and the 4 SV dimensions and 4 crash measures-pedestrian and cyclist frequency and severity. Stratified analyses were conducted for urban and rural tracts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall SV was positively and significantly associated with all 4 crash outcomes in urban areas: pedestrian crashes per trip (B = 0.048, SE = 0.012, P < .001), pedestrian crash severity per trip (B = 9.018, SE = 2.516, P < .001), cyclist crashes per trip (B = 0.093, SE = 0.029, P < .01), and cyclist crash severity per trip (B = 16.370, SE = 5.482, P < .01). In urban areas, greater SV was associated with more severe pedestrian and cyclist crash outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Targeted policy and programmatic and infrastructure interventions are needed to improve active transportation safety and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143370761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Sedentary Time and Their Associations With Psychological Distress: An Occupational Cohort Study.","authors":"Ville Päivärinne, Jouni Lahti, Jatta Salmela, Anne Kouvonen, Tea Lallukka, Ossi Rahkonen","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0224","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with mental ill-health. We examined changes in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and sedentary time, and their associations with psychological distress in an occupational cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used phase 1 survey data, collected among the employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, aged 19-39 years in 2017, and phase 2 follow-up survey from 2022 (n = 1914 participants, 75% women). A 4-category variable (High→High, Low→High, High→Low, and Low→Low) was constructed for both LTPA and sedentary time to reflect the change over time. The 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used to measure psychological distress. Logistic regression analysis estimated odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% CIs, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, working conditions, health-related factors, and physician-diagnosed mental disorders at phase 1.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Repeated low LTPA was associated with anxiety (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.44-2.85), depressive (OR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.22-2.36), and stress (OR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.58-3.12) symptoms after adjusting for gender and age, compared with repeated high LTPA. The associations remained after full adjustments in anxiety (OR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.08-2.30) and stress (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.32-2.78) symptoms. Additionally, a change from high to low LTPA was associated with anxiety (OR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.04) symptoms after full adjustments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Repeated low levels of LTPA are associated with anxiety and stress symptoms. No consistent associations between sitting time and psychological distress could be confirmed. Considering the increasing levels of psychological distress in recent years, particularly among younger adults, it is essential to explore effective countermeasures through large interventions or prospective study designs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical Activity Habits and Incident First-Ever Stroke in Middle-Aged Adults-A Prospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Birgit Vahlberg, Eva Ribom, Patrik Wennberg, Stefan Söderberg","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0411","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lifestyle affects the risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Several lifestyle factors, such as physical activity (PA), are modifiable, and in this study, we examined the association between leisure-time PA habits and the risk of a first-ever stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective study included residents in Västerbotten, Sweden, who participated in the Västerbotten Intervention Programme at 40, 50, and 60 years of age. Altogether, 31,855 individuals (50.5% women, mean age: 42.6 [6.9] y at baseline) participated between 1989 and 2016. Leisure-time PA was categorized as irregular (never/now and then) or regular (once a week/2 or 3 times a week/more than 3 times a week). Changes in PA were compared between examinations (10 y apart). Cases of stroke were validated according to World Health Organization MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease) criteria. The risk related to changes in leisure-time PA was estimated using a multivariable Cox regression model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During an average follow-up of 9.8 years (4.4), 609 incident first-ever stroke cases occurred (1.9%). A multivariable model showed that, compared with individuals with irregular PA at both examinations, those reporting regular PA over time had a lower risk of stroke (hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% CI, 0.61-0.99).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Middle-aged adults who maintained regular PA during their leisure time over 10 years had a lower risk of a first-ever stroke. This association is probably partly mediated by lower body mass index and a reduced risk of hypertension and diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143066349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Mortality by Sociodemographic Factors.","authors":"Miriam E Van Dyke, Bryant J Webber, Eric T Hyde, John Williamson, William Boyer, Geoffrey P Whitfield","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0511","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0511","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines 2nd Edition Advisory Committee Scientific Report recommended research to understand whether the health benefits of physical activity (PA) differed by sociodemographic factors. This study examined associations between meeting PA guidelines in leisure time and all-cause, heart disease, and cancer mortality across sociodemographic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nationally representative data on 567,483 eligible US adults from the 1998-2018 US National Health Interview Survey and 2019 public-use linked mortality files were used. Participants self-reported leisure-time aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA. Meeting PA guidelines was defined as meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity recommendations. Multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals comparing all-cause, heart disease, and cancer mortality risk across PA categories, with a focus on adults meeting guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across sociodemographic groups, associations comparing mortality risk among adults meeting guidelines versus those meeting neither recommendation in leisure time ranged from no significant associations to significant risk reductions in mortality ranging from 14% to 36% for all-cause, 25% to 52% for heart disease, and 20% to 32% for cancer. Risk reductions were larger for women versus men (all cause and heart disease), non-Hispanic or non-Latino/a White adults compared with Hispanic or Latino/a adults (all cause), adults with college education or higher versus those with less than high school education (all cause), and adults with high school education versus those with some college education (cancer).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Meeting PA guidelines provides a substantial reduction in mortality risk from all causes, heart disease, and cancer, but the magnitude of reduction may differ across sociodemographic groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"485-492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11922647/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Joint Associations of Sedentary Time and Intensity-Specific Physical Activity With Cancer Mortality: A Device-Based Cohort Study of 72,458 UK Adults.","authors":"Leandro F M Rezende, Matthew Ahmadi, Gerson Ferrari, Borja Del Pozo Cruz, I-Min Lee, Christine M Friedenreich, Emmanuel Stamatakis","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0436","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0436","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There are no studies examining the prospective joint association of device-based measures of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) with cancer mortality. We examined the joint associations of sedentary time and intensity-specific PA with cancer mortality in 72,458 adults from UK Biobank.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on their dominant wrist for at least 3 days (with at least 1 weekend day). Cox regression was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for joint associations of sedentary time and intensity-specific PA (light [LPA], moderate [MPA], and vigorous PA [VPA]) with cancer mortality (reference group: high intensity-specific PA and low sedentary time) adjusted for confounders and mutually adjusted for other PA intensities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Associations between sedentary time and cancer mortality were stronger among participants with low PA, irrespective of the intensity. Compared with participants with lower sedentary time (<11 h/d) and high MPA (median of 49 min/d), HR were 1.27 (95% CI, 0.90-1.78) for high sedentary time and high MPA, 1.35 (95% CI, 1.03-1.77) for high sedentary time and medium MPA (49 min/d), and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.15-1.92) for high sedentary time and low MPA (13 min/d). HR for high sedentary time and low light PA (61 min/d) and high sedentary time and low vigorous PA (1 min/d) were 1.25 (95% CI, 1.02-1.59) and 1.57 (95% CI, 1.20-2.06), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Relatively large amounts of LPA and MPA and small amounts of VPA appeared to attenuate the association between sedentary time and cancer mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"398-402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142971398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical Activity and Life Expectancy Free of Cancer: Prospective Evidence From the UK Biobank Study.","authors":"Miguel Adriano Sanchez-Lastra, Borja Del Pozo Cruz, Ulf Ekelund, Jakob Tarp, Ding Ding","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0390","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Life expectancy free of cancer (LEFC) is a novel measure that considers both morbidity and mortality and could be a useful metric for disease surveillance and risk communication. We aimed to examine the association between physical activity and LEFC in British adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective cohort study of 292,559 apparently healthy UK Biobank participants (mean [SD] age, 56.0 [8.1] y, 51% women). Participants were categorized based on self-reported physical activity as \"no activity\" (0 min/wk), \"insufficiently active\" (10-599 metabolic equivalent-min/wk), \"active\" (600-1199 metabolic equivalent-min/wk), and \"very active\" (>1200 metabolic equivalent-min/wk). Hazard ratios from multistate models for transitions between 3 states (cancer-free, cancer diagnosis, and all-cause mortality) were used to calculate differences in predicted remaining LEFC across physical activity levels for men and women at ages 45 and 65 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During a median follow-up of 11.0 years, we recorded 13,143 cancer cases for men and 10,255 for women, and 6488 deaths for men and 3739 for women. At age 45, \"insufficiently active,\" \"active,\" and \"very active\" had a higher LEFC by 2.35, 2.46, and 2.76 years compared with \"no activity,\" and by 1.44, 1.62, and 1.84 years at age 65. In women, the \"insufficiently active,\" \"active,\" and \"very active\" had a higher LEFC by 1.09, 1.42, and 1.59 years at age 45, and by 1.25, 1.54, and 1.71 years at age 65.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Engaging in physical activity, even below recommended levels, appears to extend cancer-free years of life. Promoting physical activity is an important strategy for cancer prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143007147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations Between Movement Behaviors, Cognition, and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.","authors":"João P Gonçalves, Gabriela Ferreira, Luís Lopes, Eduarda Sousa-Sá, Rute Santos","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0014","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This systematic review summarizes the literature on the associations between movement behaviors (eg, sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity [PA]) and cognition, and academic achievement (AA) in children and adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus) were searched from inception until October 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This systematic review included 24 reports, representing 48,558 youth aged 6-17.9 years. Ten reports (46%) showed a high risk of bias, and overall quality of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. No reports assessed the associations between sleep and cognition; 1 cross-sectional report showed beneficial associations between sleep and AA. Sedentary behaviors showed null associations with AA in 43% of the reports; however, screen time was detrimentally associated with AA in all reports. Overall, 57% of the reports looking at the associations between PA and cognition showed beneficial associations; 53% showed beneficial associations between PA and AA; 56% of the randomized controlled trials showed beneficial impacts on cognition (3 out of 5) or on AA (2 out of 4).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, this systematic review showed evidence of beneficial associations between PA and cognition and AA, as well as detrimental effects of screen time. Due to the many inconsistent results found for sedentary behavior, together with scarce data on associations between sleep duration and cognition, and AA in children and adolescents, more research is needed so researchers can draw strong and evidence-based conclusions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"285-306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Qualitative Elicitation of Physical Activity Salient Beliefs Among Turkish Adolescent Girls.","authors":"Günay Yıldızer, Gonca Eren, Ahmet Sinan Türkyılmaz, Chung Gun Lee","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2023-0657","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2023-0657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to investigate salient beliefs toward physical activity by gathering qualitative data through open-ended questions among high school-aged female adolescents in Turkey.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sample of 259 Turkish high school students, aged between 14 and 17, were randomly selected to participate in this study. Open-ended questions address 3 main components of the Theory of Planned Behavior, attitudes, perceived control, and social norms. Content analysis is employed to categorize the data according to themes, during the elicitation process.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results were categorized as variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Positive attitude contributors included health expectations, emotions, fitness expectations, learning, and socialization, while negative attitude contributors encompassed adverse health outcomes and emotions. Second, perceived competence and efficacy emerged as positive contributors to perceived behavior control, whereas factors, such as time constraints, health-related barriers, fitness barriers, environmental and economic barriers, and perceived negative competence and efficacy were identified as negative influencers of perceived behavior control. Last, it was found that families, friends, and teachers played significant roles in shaping social norms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Offering attractive choices for physical activities while explaining the positive impact on both physical, and mental health, as well as physical fitness is important for positive attitudes. Providing positive experiences and emphasizing the aspects of physical activity that support academic productivity are important factors in supporting perceived behavioral control. Finally, advocating for environments that promote physical activity behaviors among peers and ensure comprehensive support from families and educators is valuable in terms of subjective norms to increase physical activity intentions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"373-386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microscale Audits of the Built Environment and the Challenges for Pedestrians in 4 Residential Areas in Oman.","authors":"Gustavo De Siqueira, Ruth Mabry, Huda Al Siyabi, Amal Al Siyabi, Iman Al Ofi","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0402","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ensuring a livable and healthy built environment that addresses challenges of climate change and the pandemic of noncommunicable diseases should include creating an environment support of physical activity. This study aims to build local evidence on improving the residential areas by assessing the built environment of 4 residential areas in Oman.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study uses the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes-Mini, a 15-item tool with 4 subscales (destinations and land use, aesthetics, pedestrian infrastructure, and crossings/traffic safety), to conduct environmental audits of 4 areas in Barka and Nizwa, Oman. In each neighborhood, two 1-km long routes that crossed the diameter of the area, and passed by, or led to one or more group of amenities were selected. Each route was scored independently by 2 raters and showed good interrater agreement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall score was poor walkability across the 4 neighborhoods (mean = 0.18; range: 0.14 and 0.20) where scores >0.80 are considered excellent for walkability. Aesthetics was the only subscale with a good quality score (0.64) compared with the others (pedestrian infrastructure: 0.19, crossings/traffic safety: 0.06, and destination and land use: 0.06).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrated the utility of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes-Mini tool for cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The low scores point to the urgent need to identify cost-effective adaptations of the built environment that could substantially increase physical activity outcomes of the population. Further regionally relevant research can help identify specific design elements needed for more walker friendly neighborhoods.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"387-392"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142921752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}