日足P&Fの状況：（08月25日）～（08月29日）

Background–Several non-pharmaceutical policies, which include stay-at-home orders, mobility restrictions, and quarantine, have been implemented to reduce the spread of novel coron-avirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present study examines work style changes among company workers after COVID-19 and analyses their effects on workers’ domain-specific sedentary and active behaviours. Methods-We analysed data from a nationwide prospective online survey in Japan. The data were obtained in February 2019 (n = 3200) and in July 2020 (n = 1709) from the registered individuals of a Japanese internet research service company. The participants reported work style patterns before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the follow-up survey. Domain-specific sedentary behaviours and physical activities were assessed by questionnaires. Paired t-tests were used to compare work styles before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations between changes in work style and changes in sedentary behaviours and physical activities. Results. Workers had more working from home days and fewer office-based working days after the outbreak of COVID-19 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The increase in the number of working from home days per week was significantly associated with increases in work-related sitting time and total sitting time (b = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08, 0.24, p < 0.001 and b = 0.23, 95% CI 0.11, 0.36, p < 0.001, respectively). However, it was also associated with a decrease in car sitting time (b = −0.04, 95% CI −0.06,-0.01, p < 0.001). In addition, the increase in the number of working from home days was associated with a decrease in work-related moderate physical activity (b =−0.06, 95% CI −0.10, −0.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions. Our study provided preliminary evidence of an increase in working from home days in response to COVID-19 in Japan and of how this increase in the number of working from home days has affected workers’ sedentary behaviours and physical activities. These findings shed light on the effects of COVID-19 on work styles and workers’ sedentary behaviours and physical activity.

Purpose Environmental initiatives to support walking are keys to noncommunicable disease prevention, but the relevant evidence comes mainly from cross-sectional studies. We examined neighborhood environmental attributes associated cross-sectionally with walking and those associated prospectively with walking maintenance. Methods Data were from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study collected in 2004-2005 (baseline) and in 2011-2012 (follow-up). Participants who did not move residence during the study period (n = 2684, age range: 30-77 yr at baseline) were categorized as regular walkers (walked five times per week or more) or not at baseline. Regular walkers were divided into those who stopped and those who maintained regular walking at follow-up. Regression analyses examined relationships of regular walking and walking maintenance with perceived attributes of neighborhood destinations and pedestrian environments. Results Regular walking at baseline was significantly associated with availability of shops (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.22), many alternative routes (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.23), park or nature reserve (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.26), bicycle or walking tracks (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.00-1.17), and feeling safe to walk (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.01-1.38). Maintenance of regular walking was associated with the availability of multiple alternative routes (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03-1.38). Having many alternative routes and walking tracks was associated with walking maintenance among those who were not or had stopped working. Conclusions Neighborhood destinations (shops and parks) and pedestrian environments (alternative routes, walking trails, and safety from crime) were found to be associated with regular walking, but only pedestrian environment attributes were found to be related to the maintenance of regular walking. Further evidence from prospective studies is required to identify other neighborhood environmental attributes that might support walking maintenance.

【はじめに、目的】 健康関連QOL(HRQOL)を向上させる因子の一つとして、身体活動セルフ・エフィカシー(SE)が注目されている。SEとはBanduraによると「ある結果を生み出すために必要な行動をどの程度うまく行うことができるかという個人の確信」と定義されている。特に運動や身体活動に関するSEは、身体活動や行動変容や運動の継続、更にはHRQOLに関係するとされている。しかしながら人工膝関節全置換術(TKA)患者に対して、身体活動SEが身体機能およびHRQOLに及ぼす影響について明らかにされていない。本研究の目的はTKA後のリハ介入における身体機能、HRQOLおよび身体活動SEの回復過程とその関連性について明らかにすることである。【方法】 対象は2010年10月から2011年7月までに当院でTKAを施行した変形性膝関節症患者44例48膝とした。手術時年齢は73.2±7.7歳、BMI26.1±3.5 kg/m2，術後在院日数25.2±5.3日、術後リハは当院プロトコールに準じて術後3ヶ月間外来リハを実施した。身体機能評価としてTimed Up and Go test(TUG)、開眼片脚起立時間、膝伸展筋力を測定した。HRQOLの評価指標としてSF-36の下位8尺度である身体機能(PF)、日常役割機能－身体(RP)、体の痛み(BP)、全体的健康感(GH)、活力(VT)、社会生活機能(SF)、日常役割機能－精神(RE)、心の健康(MH)と身体的サマリースコア(PCS)と精神的サマリースコア(MCS)を用いた。身体活動SEは虚弱高齢者の身体活動SE尺度（歩行、階段、重量物）とその総合得点を用いた。評価は術前、術後1ヶ月(退院時)と3ヶ月(外来通院時)とした。統計解析は回復過程を一元配置分散分析とBonferroni多重比較、身体機能およびHRQOLと身体活動SEとの関連性に関しては各変化量をpearsonの相関係数を用い、有意水準は5%未満とした。【倫理的配慮、説明と同意】 本研究は当院生命倫理委員会の承認(0826)を受け、対象者に研究内容の説明文書を用いて口頭による説明を行い、研究参加への同意を得て実施した。【結果】 各項目は術前(T1)→術後1ヶ月(T2)→術後3ヶ月(T3)の順に平均値±標準偏差で示した。TUGは11.8±3.8→11.7±3.8→10.5±3.3秒となりT1とT3，T2とT3で有意に改善した。開眼片脚起立時間は13.3±19.3→20.8±26.1→23.2±31.8秒となりT1とT3で有意に向上した。膝伸展筋力は0.5±0.2→0.5±0.1→0.6±0.1N・m／kgとなりT2とT3で有意に向上を認めた。SF-36の下位尺度のうち、PFは37.7±20.8→40.6±25.6→52.5±20.3点、BPは35.1±15.3→36.2±19.2→49.8±21.2点、SFは53.9±27.1→56.8±25.3→69.8±23.5点となりT1とT3，T2とT3で有意に改善を認めた。GHは48.8±13.6→53.5±14.5→54.1±16.5点となりT1とT3で有意に改善を示した。PCSは16.5±12.5→15.3±14.6→23.1±16.1点となりT1とT3，T2とT3で有意に改善した。身体活動SEのうち、歩行SEは12.4±5.0→14.9±6.4→15.9±5.3点、階段SEは8.9±5.2→10.4±5.2→12.5±5.1点、重量物SEは14.1±5.9→15.7±5.3→17.3±6.1点となりT1とT3で有意に向上した。身体活動SEの総合得点では35.4±12.5→41.1±13.1→45.6±12.8点となりT1とT2，T1とT3で有意に向上を認めた。身体活動SEの総合得点とHRQOLとの関連性はPF、RP、BP、RP、GH、REおよびPCSと有意な正の相関を示した(r＝0.307～0.508，p＜0.05)。身体活動SEの総合得点と身体機能の各項目とは有意な相関が見られなかった。【考察】 身体機能、HRQOLおよび身体活動SEは時間経過とともに有意に改善を示した。退院時では十分な改善が得られず、退院後もリハの継続が必要になると考える。身体機能と身体活動SEはHRQOLと関連性があり、身体機能とは関連性がないことが示唆された。HRQOLを向上させるためには、身体機能に加え、身体活動SEを高めるような方策を積極的にリハに組み入れていく必要があると考える。【理学療法学研究としての意義】 TKA後のリハは身体活動SEを高めるアプローチを加えることで、TKA患者のHRQOLを向上させることが可能になると考える。

Background

Although the main targets for reducing workplace sedentary behavior have been clarified, only a few studies have examined the association between social-ecological factors and workplace sedentary behavior for effective intervention. The present study aimed to examine the social-ecological factors of workplace sedentary behavior among Japanese sedentary workers.
Methods

Participants were recruited via a cross-sectional mail survey targeting randomly sampled 6000 middle-aged people dwelling in Matsuyama-city and Koto-ku in Japan. Participants answered a questionnaire on social-ecological factors, recorded their work time in a diary, and wore a triaxial accelerometer during waking time for 7 consecutive days. Workplace sedentary behavior was measured using accelerometer and was referred to as the work time in the recorded diary. Full-time workers who had mainly sitting work and valid accelerometer data were included in the analysis. Workplace sedentary variables were sedentary breaks per sedentary hour, sedentary time, and ≥ 30 min bouts of sedentary time. The associations between each sedentary variable and social-ecological factors were explored by conducting three multiple linear regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors.
Results

A total of 227 participants (133 men, mean age 49.9 ± 6.9 years) were included in the analysis. In the overall sample, “typically seeing work colleagues take sedentary breaks” was significantly associated with more sedentary breaks (B [95% confidence interval {CI}=1.40 [0.07 to 2.73]) and shorter ≥30-min bouts of sedentary time (B [95% CI] = −7.08 [−13.75 to −0.40]). “I am motivated to take sedentary breaks” had an unfavorable association with less sedentary breaks (B [95% CI] = −1.36 [−2.61 to −0.12]) and longer sedentary time (B [95% CI] = 4.15 [0.29 to 8.00]). In male workers, “Too stressed to take sedentary breaks” was significantly associated with less sedentary breaks (B [95% CI] = −5.6 [−9.17 to −2.02]).
Conclusions

Seeing work colleagues take sedentary breaks may be important for reducing workplace sedentary behavior. Those who are more sedentary are motivated to take sedentary breaks. Male workers who feel the need to take sedentary breaks at work are more sedentary.

The present study investigated the relative contributions of psychological, social, and environmental factors to meeting physical activity recommendation by walking among Japanese adults. Self-reported measures of total weekly physical activity, vigorous and moderately intense activity, walking, self-efficacy, pros, cons, social support, health-professional advice, home exercise equipment, access to facilities, neighbourhood safety, enjoyable scenery, frequently observing others exercising, and residential area were obtained from 1932 Japanese male and female adults using an Internet-based cross-sectional survey on February, 2008. Based on the recommendation criteria of the Exercise and Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2006 (EPAR2006), respondents were divided into 3 groups: recommended, insufficient, and inactive. A force entry multivariate logistic regression model was utilized. Overall, 69.0% of responders walked in daily life, for transportation or for exercise. However, only 12.1% walked according to the recommended criterion of the EPAR2006. When adjusting for all other variables, there was no association between psychological, social, and environmental factors and recommended group in males. However, self-efficacy, pros, enjoyable scenery were positively whereas social support and living in both suburban and rural areas were negatively associated with only insufficient group in males. For females, selfefficacy, home exercise equipment, and enjoyable scenery were positively associated, whereas living in rural area was negatively associated with both recommended and sufficient groups. Living in suburban area was negatively associated with only insufficient group. Different psychological, social, and environmental correlates were found in walking behaviours with the recommended and insufficient level as well as for males and females. This suggests that a design of intervention that accounts for the specific correlates with each walking activity level and gender found in the current study may more effectively promote walking due to well-matching the needs and characteristics of the target population among Japanese adults.

Background: It is vital to reduce the proportion of sedentary behavior in children. Understanding the duration and behavioral context is needed. The present study examined school-grade and sex differences in domain-specific sedentary times and concurrence with screen-time guidelines among Japanese elementary school children.Methods: A total of 625 children (330 boys) were surveyed in 2010 and 2014. Using a questionnaire, data regarding participants' grade (first through third grades: lower grades; fourth through six grades: higher grades), sex, weight, and height were collected in addition to the time spent per day engaging in each specific sedentary behavior separately: (1) reading or listening to music, (2) TV or video viewing, (3) TV game use, (4) internet use excluding class, (5) homework, and (6) car travel. Two-way analysis of covariance and logistic regression analyses, adjusted for BMI and moderate to vigorous physical activity, were used to examine school-grade and sex differences in sedentary behaviors and the independent risk of exceeding recommended total daily screen time ( 2 h).Results: On 625 children, mean minutes (SD) of sedentary behavior per week in (1) - (6) were 90.3 (123.4), 535.0 (356.6), 167.3 (222.1), 23.9 (70.9), 264.9 (185.3), and 33.4 (61.2) in weekdays and 42.1 (70.0), 323.9 (232.0), 123.0 (96.4), 15.8 (49.9), 74.4 (96.4), and 71.3 (84.9) in weekends, respectively. There were differences in the minutes of sedentary behavior between participants of 2010 and 2014; e.g., TV game use and homework in weekdays and weekdays and car travel in weekends. Boys spent more time in TV game use, and girls spent more time reading, listening to music, doing homework, and car travel. Higher-grade students spent more time reading or listening to music, using a computer, and doing homework. Higher-grade students were 2.09 times (95% CI: 1.32 - 3.30) in whole week, 2.08 times (95% CI: 1.45 - 3.00) in weekday, and 1.88 times (95% CI: 1.29 - 2.74) in weekend more likely to spend = 2 h per day in domains (2) - (4) (screen-time) than lower-grade students.Conclusions: Time spent engaging in each domain-specific sedentary behavior differed according to sex and school grade. Higher-grade students were less likely to meet screen-time guidelines. These findings highlight the need for domain-focused strategies to decrease sedentary behavior in Japanese school-age children.

Background: Inconsistent associations of neighbourhood walkability with adults' body weight have been reported. Most studies examining the relationships of walkability and adiposity are cross-sectional in design. We examined the longitudinal relationships of two walkability indices - conventional walkability and space syntax walkability, and their individual components, with weight change among adults over four years. Methods: Data were from the Physical Activity in Localities and Community study in Adelaide, Australia. In 2003-2004, 2650 adults living in 154 Census Collection Districts (CCDs) returned baseline questionnaires in 2007-2008, the follow-up survey was completed by 1098. Participants reported their weight at baseline and at follow-up. Neighbourhood walkability indices were calculated using geographic information systems and space syntax software. Linear marginal models using generalized estimating equations with robust standard errors were fitted to examine associations of the two walkability indices and their individual components with the weight at follow-up, adjusting for baseline weight, socio-demographic variables, and spatial clustering at the level of CCD. Results: The overall mean weight gain over four years was 1.5 kg. The two walkability indices were closely correlated (r = 0.76, p < 0.01). No significant associations were found between the overall neighbourhood walkability indices and weight change. Among walkability components, there was a marginally significant negative association between space syntax measure of street integration and weight change: one standard deviation increment in street integration was associated with 0.31 kg less weight gain (p = 0.09). Conclusions: Using a prospective study design and a novel space-syntax based measure of walkability, we were not able to identify relationships between neighbourhood walkability with weight gain. This is consistent with other inconclusive findings on the built environment and obesity. Research on the built environment and adults' weight gain may need to consider not just local environments but also a larger scale environment within a city or workplace environment in order to capture multiple behaviours relevant to weight gain.

This study aimed to examine the association of muscle-strengthening activity with knee and low back pain, falls, and health-related quality of life among Japanese older adults. A cross-sectional survey targeted 3,000 people. The response rate was 52% and 208 respondents did not meet the inclusion criteria. Therefore, 1,351 individuals were analyzed. Muscle-strengthening activity (exercise using equipment and body weight, lifestyle activities), knee and low back pain, falls over the past year, health-related quality of life (SF-8), and potential confounders were assessed. Individuals engaging in exercise using body weight and lifestyle activity (= 2 days/week) were more likely to have knee pain. Engaging in exercise using equipment and body weight was associated with higher scores of general health. These results indicate that exercise using equipment and body weight might have a positive effect on health-related quality of life, but muscle-strengthening activities are associated with knee pain in older people.

Background: Concern over the health risks of sedentary behavior has highlighted the need to examine factors associated with screen-based (television/computer) sedentary behavior. The present study examined the association of screen-based sedentary behavior with body weight and sociodemographic attributes among Japanese adults. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study enrolled 1034 Japanese adults aged 40 to 69 years who lived in 2 Japanese cities. Sociodemographic variables, height, weight, and time spent on screen-based sedentary behavior were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Differences in screen time in relation to body mass index and weight gain since age 20 years were assessed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Independent associations of each variable with screen time were examined by forced-entry logistic regression analyses. Results: Mean (SD) age and median (interquartile range) duration of screen time per week were 55.6 (8.4) years and 832.0 (368.8-1263.1) minutes, respectively, for men, and 55.3 (8.4) years and 852.6 (426.0-1307.5) minutes, respectively, for women. Screen time among participants with weight gain was longer than among those with a weight gain of less than 10 kg (P = 0.08). Unmarried and unemployed participants had longer screen times. Participants aged 40 to 49 years were less likely than older age groups to spend time on screen-based sedentary behavior during leisure hours. Conclusions: The present findings imply that strategies are necessary to discourage screen-based sedentary behavior among all demographic groups, especially among adults who are elderly, unmarried, or unemployed. © 2013 Kaori Ishii et al.

Background: In addition to insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), prolonged sitting time is also a health risk for older adults. An understanding of population subgroups who have prolonged television viewing (TV) time, a predominant sedentary behavior, can aid in the development of relevant health promotion initiatives; however, few such studies have focused on older adults, the most sedentary segment of the population as a whole. The aim of this study is to examine the socio-demographic attributes associated with TV time among community-dwelling Japanese older men and women.Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional mail survey was used to collect data on TV time, MVPA, and socio-demographic characteristics. The survey was conducted from February through March 2010. Participants were 2700 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65-74 years, 50% men) who were randomly selected from the registry of residential addresses of three cities in Japan. Data from 1665 participants (mean age: 69.5 years, 52% men) who completed all variables for the present study were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) of prolonged TV time (2 hours/day) for each socio-demographic attribute, stratified by gender.Results: Of the 1665 participants, 810 (48.6%) watched TV for more than 2 hours/day. The median television viewing time (25th, 75th percentile) was 2.00 (1.07, 3.50) hours/day. Prolonged TV time was associated with not in full-time employment, lower educational attainment, weight status, living in regional areas and low MVPA for the whole sample. For men, prolonged TV time was associated with lower educational attainment; (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.12 2.07), underweight (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.02-2.60), overweight (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.11-2.21), and low MVPA (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02-2.02). For women, living in regional areas (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.33-3.08), living alone (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.03-2.49), not driving (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.21-2.65), overweight (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.00-2.24), and low MVPA (OR = 1.51. 95% CI: 1.05-2.17) were associated with prolonged TV time.Conclusions: These findings identify particular socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics related to TV time among Japanese older adults. It should be noted that correlates of prolonged TV time differed by gender. Women in living situations with limited transportation options tended to spend prolonged time watching TV. Health promotion initiatives for older adults, particularly for older women, may be more effective if they take these attributes into account.

In addition to intensity and quality, diversity of activity will be an important factor to explain health outcomes among older adults. Few studies, though, examined an association between activity diversity and health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the association between activity diversity and frailty among community-dwelling older Japanese. Participants were community-dwelling older adults who participated in a cohort study, the “Otassya-Kenshin” in 2018 . The participants were asked frequency of 20 daily activities, inside/outside chores, leisure activities with/without physically, direct/indirect contact with friends and so on, in a week and activity diversity score were calculated using the formula of Shannon’s entropy. Frailty was defined by the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. The difference in diversity score between frail and non frail were examined by t-test. Logistic regression analysis with covariates, age, sex, economic status, living alone, BMI, Mini-Mental State Examination, and IADL was adopted to find association between activity diversity score and presence of frailty. Of 652 participants (age: 72.8±6.3, women: 60.6%) analyzed, 27 (4.1%) were defined as frail. Frailty group revealed significantly lower activity diversity score than non-frailty group (0.66±0.11 vs 0.75±0.08, Plt;0.01). 0.2 point of decrease in diversity score increase 5 times chance of frailty after controlling covariates. We found significant relationship between activity diversity and health outcome among older subjects. The activity diversity may provide additional information to number or intensity of activity.

BackgroundThere are spatial disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality related to area‐level socioeconomic status (SES) disadvantage, but little is known about the spatial distribution of CVD mortality according to built environment factors. We examined joint associations of neighborhood walkability attributes and SES with CVD mortality rates through linkage of Japanese national data sets.Methods and ResultsNational data were used from the 1824 municipalities (of the 1880 potentially eligible municipalities) across Japan. The outcome was mortality from CVD for a 5‐year period (2008–2012) for each municipality. A national index of neighborhood deprivation was used as an indicator of municipality‐level SES. A national walkability index (based on population density, road density, and access to commercial areas) was calculated. Compared with higher SES municipalities, relative rates for CVD mortality were significantly higher in medium SES municipalities (relative rate, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07) and in lower SES municipalities (relative rate, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.07–1.12). There were walkability‐related gradients in CVD mortality within the high and medium SES areas, in which lower walkability was associated with higher rates of mortality; however, walkability‐related CVD mortality gradients were not apparent in lower SES municipalities.ConclusionsCVD mortality rates varied not only by area‐level SES but also by walkability. Those living in areas of lower walkability were at higher risk of CVD mortality, even if the areas have a higher SES. Our findings provide a novel element of the evidence base needed to inform better allocation of services and resources for CVD prevention.

The present case study evaluated an environment-focused project for promoting walking, which included the development of walking courses (using public spaces, parks, roads) with stations for smart cards in the community and an interfaced internet-based self-monitoring system. The project was started in 2008 in Misato City of Saitama Prefecture. In this project, individuals can participate by paying a registration fee (500 yen) and obtaining their own cards. If registrants walk the course, holding their cards over a scanner at 3-4 stations, the smart card records their data (e.g. distance and time spent in walking) from one to the other station and transfers these to a self-monitoring system. As a result, registrants could check their data online. From June 2008 to November 2009, a total of 631 individuals (62% female) who obtained the information from newspaper, magazines, website, or some local events, registered for this project. From walking data collected automatically in the database through the self-monitoring system, it was found that 445 registrants (63% female) used this system at least once, and most of the registrants were 40 years old or more. This suggests that the project in this study might have been effective in promoting walking only among older people. Also, most of the registrants lived around the courses. In particular, the courses in the area surrounded by beautiful nature and residential areas were often used. To expand this idea to other age groups, new attempts, including a point supplying system based on the distance of walking are under development.

Purpose: Environmental initiatives to support walking are keys to noncommunicable disease prevention, but the relevant evidence comes mainly from cross-sectional studies. We examined neighborhood environmental attributes associated cross-sectionally with walking and those associated prospectively with walking maintenance. Methods: Data were from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study collected in 2004-2005 (baseline) and in 2011-2012 (follow-up). Participants who did not move residence during the study period (n = 2684, age range: 30-77 yr at baseline) were categorized as regular walkers (walked five times per week or more) or not at baseline. Regular walkers were divided into those who stopped and those who maintained regular walking at follow-up. Regression analyses examined relationships of regular walking and walking maintenance with perceived attributes of neighborhood destinations and pedestrian environments. Results: Regular walking at baseline was significantly associated with availability of shops (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.22), many alternative routes (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.23), park or nature reserve (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.26), bicycle or walking tracks (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.00-1.17), and feeling safe to walk (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.01-1.38). Maintenance of regular walking was associated with the availability of multiple alternative routes (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03-1.38). Having many alternative routes and walking tracks was associated with walking maintenance among those who were not or had stopped working. Conclusions: Neighborhood destinations (shops and parks) and pedestrian environments (alternative routes, walking trails, and safety from crime) were found to be associated with regular walking, but only pedestrian environment attributes were found to be related to the maintenance of regular walking. Further evidence from prospective studies is required to identify other neighborhood environmental attributes that might support walking maintenance.

The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of lifestyle walking behavior among Japanese adults aged 30-49 and to identify their sociodemographic characteristics.A sample of 5,009 was collected from registrants of a social research company. The study was a cross-sectional survey using the Internet. Measured variables were walking behavior in five domains (commuting, working, shopping, exercising and other movement) and sociodemographic characteristics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was utilized to identify walking patterns.Four walking behavior clusters were identified: cluster 1 (N=1,089) walking while commuting, working and shopping; cluster 2 (N=381) walking while commuting; cluster 3 (N=1,257) walking for exercise; cluster 4 (N=1,161) walking while shopping. Cluster 1 had the highest proportion of walkers who met physical activity recommendations. Also it had a high proportion of women who were unmarried, employed, without children, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 2 showed a high proportion of men who were married, with children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school, and women who were married, employed, without children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 3 had a high proportion of women aged 40-49. Cluster 4 showed a low proportion of men with high household income and a high proportion of women who were married, unemployed, or with children.This study indicated that walking behavior patterns in both genders was different depending on marital status, number of children, educational level and household income. In addition, the employment status of women had apparent effects on these patterns.