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Worksite Built Environment and Objectively Measured Physical Activity While at Work: An Analysis Using Perceived and Objective Walkability and Greenness

Abstract

The role of worksite environments in promoting physical activity (PA) remains largely unexplored. With workers in the U.S. spending half of their waking day in their work environment, the workplace could be an important venue for the promotion of health and PA. We examined associations between PA gained while at work and the built environment around the workplace. We measured PA using accelerometer devices in a sample of 119 participants of the Supports at Home and Work for Maintaining Energy Balance study, with a wear time of 1 week. Measures of built environment included perceived walkability, two different measures of objective walkability, and greenness.

Working in an environment perceived as walkable was associated with more minutes of PA while at work in all models. When measured objectively, walkability was found significant in the adjusted models controlling for both home walkability and amount of PA gained in nonwork related activities. Greenness of the work environment was found nonsignificant. Findings suggest investing in walkable environments around the workplace or having worksites located in walkable areas can contribute to increased minutes of PA for employed people in the U.S.

Authors

  • Oriol Marquet, PhD, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University
  • Aaron J. Hipp, PhD, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University
Volume#: 81.7
Page #: 20-26
Publication Month: March 2019

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