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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Associations between neighbourhood walkability and daily steps in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Samantha Hajna, Nancy A. Ross, Anne-Sophie Brazeau, Patrick Bélisle, Lawrence Joseph, Kaberi Dasgupta

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Higher street connectivity, land use mix and residential density (collectively referred to as neighbourhood walkability) have been linked to higher levels of walking. The objective of our study was to summarize the current body of knowledge on the association between neighbourhood walkability and biosensor-assessed daily steps in adults.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase (Ovid) for articles published prior to May 2014 on the association between walkability (based on Geographic Information Systems-derived street connectivity, land use mix, and/or residential density) and daily steps (pedometer or accelerometer-assessed) in adults. The mean differences in daily steps between adults living in high versus low walkable neighbourhoods were pooled across studies using a Bayesian hierarchical model.

Results

The search strategy yielded 8,744 unique abstracts. Thirty of these underwent full article review of which six met the inclusion criteria. Four of these studies were conducted in Europe and two were conducted in Asia. A meta-analysis of four of these six studies indicates that participants living in high compared to low walkable neighbourhoods accumulate 766 more steps per day (95 % credible interval 250, 1271). This accounts for approximately 8 % of recommended daily steps.

Conclusions

The results of European and Asian studies support the hypothesis that higher neighbourhood walkability is associated with higher levels of biosensor-assessed walking in adults. More studies on this association are needed in North America.
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Metadata
Title
Associations between neighbourhood walkability and daily steps in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Samantha Hajna
Nancy A. Ross
Anne-Sophie Brazeau
Patrick Bélisle
Lawrence Joseph
Kaberi Dasgupta
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2082-x

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