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American Journal of Public Health
Volume 93 No 9: 1583-1589
September 2003

Relative Influences of Individual, Social Environmental, and Physical Environmental Correlates of Walking
Billie Giles-Corti, PhD and Robert J. Donovan, PhD

ABSTRACT
Background The role of walking, as compared with vigorous exercise, in the prevention of Objectives. This study sought to examine individual, social environmental, and physical environmental correlates of walking.

Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthy workers and homemakers residing in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia.

Results. Most respondents walked for transport or recreation, but only 17.2% did a sufficient amount of walking to accrue health benefits. After adjustment, the relative influences of individual, social environmental, and physical environmental factors were found to be almost equally important.

Conclusions. Although walking is popular, few people do enough walking to benefit their health. Those who walk as well as engage in other physical activities appear more likely to achieve recommended levels of activity. Promoting walking may require a comprehensive strategy.

Source Information
Billie Giles-Corti is with the School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley. At the time this study was conducted, Robert J. Donovan was with the Graduate School of Management, University of Western Australia.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Billie Giles-Corti, PhD, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009 (e-mail: billie@cyllene.uwa.edu.au ).

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