Prevalence of physically active and sedentary travel in a regional area of Japan: Geographic and demographic variations

• Published in: Journal of transport & health Vol. 24; p. 101318
• Main Authors: Kubota, Akio, Abe, Takumi, Hadgraft, Nyssa, Owen, Neville, Sugiyama, Takemi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Car use; Cycling; Transport; Walking; Walking; Cycling; Transport; Car use
• ISSN: 2214-1405; 2214-1413
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2021.101318

Promoting walking and cycling for transport is a promising strategy to address physical inactivity at the population level. Household travel surveys conducted in Western countries have been used to identify geographic and demographic correlates of travel behaviors, but less is known for Asian cities. We examined the prevalence of active and sedentary travel and their geographic and demographic variations in a regional area of Japan. Data from 49,562 adults who participated in a travel survey in Shizuoka were used. Travel behaviors were self-reported in a 24-h travel diary. Participants were classified into those engaged in active travel (30+ min/d in walking/cycling and 0 min/d of car use) or not and sedentary travel (0 min/d in walking/cycling and 60+ min/d of car use) or not. Multilevel regression models examined the odds of engaging in active and sedentary travel, according to geographic areas (regional center or suburbs), gender, and age group (younger: 20–44 years; middle age: 45–64 years; older: 65–74 years), adjusting for relevant covariates. We also created a joint category of geographic area, gender, and age groups, and used the category as an exposure variable. Overall, 15% of participants engaged in active travel, and 21% in sedentary travel. Compared to participants of the regional center, those living in the suburbs had a 59% lower odds (95%CI: 0.29, 0.57) of engaging in active travel, and a 56% higher odds (95%CI: 1.31, 1.87) of engaging in sedentary travel. Analyses using the joint category found that younger and middle-aged men living in the suburbs were predominantly sedentary during transport. Working-age men living in regional suburbs were highly inactive for daily transport. Household travel survey data can help identify at-risk groups for whom tailored public health initiatives may be developed and implemented. •Over two fifths of participants used cars over 1 h/d, with no walking or cycling.•About 15% of participants were likely to meet physical activity guidelines from active travel.•Working-age men in regional suburbs were predominantly sedentary for travel.•Women in the regional center, particularly older women, were active for transport.•Travel surveys provide health-related insights on active and sedentary behaviors.