Home and Work Physical Activity Environments: Associations with Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity Level in French Women

Abstract

The influence of the physical activity environment in the home and at work on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and objectively-measured physical activity has not been extensively studied. We recruited 147 women with a (mean ± SD) age of 54 ± 7 years and without evidence of chronic disease. The physical activity environment was assessed by self-report (Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity or ALPHA questionnaire), CRF using a submaximal step test, usual physical activity using combined heart rate and accelerometry, as well as by a validated questionnaire (Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire). Summary scores of the home environment and the work environment derived from the ALPHA questionnaire were positively correlated with CRF after adjustment for age (r = 0.18, p = 0.03 and r = 0.28, p < 0.01, respectively). Women owning a bicycle or having a garden (which may prompt physical activity) had higher CRF; those with a bicycle at home also had a higher physical activity energy expenditure. Similarly, women who had access to fitness equipment at work had higher CRF. In conclusion, these results provide new insights into potential environmental influences on physical capacity and physical activity that could inform the design of physical activity promotion strategies.

Physical activity in healthy urban adults and its association with body composition parameters

“…The higher self-reported vigorous PA in men than in women in this study conforms to the Eurobarometer findings [8]. The comparably higher number of minutes of walking and moderate PA in women could be reflective of their lifestyle and exercise preferences; according to the results of another study, their PA level might be strongly influenced by availability of fitness and PA facilities in their immediate living area [9]. A similar number of men and women described their occupation as involving moderate or vigorous PA.…”

Performance, metabolic, hemodynamic, and perceived exertion in the six-minute step test at different heights in a healthy population of different age groups

“…Pitta et al 36 observed a relationship between the daily physical activity level, measured by an accelerometer, and the six-minute walk test performance, both in chronic respiratory patients and healthy individuals. In this same perspective, Oppert et al 37 observed an association between the physical activity level and the 8-minute step test performance in healthy women. This fact was observed in the present study in which the physical activity level was related to the 6MST performance in the tests with a step height of 15 cm and 20 cm, indicating that the 6MST may reflect the level of functional exercise to perform daily physical activities using these step heights.…”

Associations between spatial access to physical activity facilities and frequency of physical activity; how do home and workplace neighbourhoods in West Central Scotland compare?

“…while greater cycling and walking rates have been linked to living in areas with better access to green space and bicycle facilities [11]. Further work could include a greater range of home and workplace neighbourhood built environment variables potentially related to PA, or include data on presence of fitness equipment within homes or workplaces; fitness equipment access within the workplace has been linked to higher cardio-respiratory fitness (in women) [72]. The current study examined associations between PA facility access and overall PA behaviour, however Giles-Corti et al [18] argued that prediction of PA will be improved where ‘behaviour-specific’ environmental features are associated with ‘context-specific’ behaviours.…”