Browsing by Author "McCormack, Gavin R"
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Item Open Access BMI-referenced cut-points for recommended daily pedometer-determined steps in Australian children and adolescents(Taylor & Francis, 2011-06) McCormack, Gavin R; Rutherford, Jack; Giles-Corti, Billie; Tudor-Locke, Catrine; Bull, FionaThe purpose of this study was to establish sex-specific criterion-referenced standards for pedometer-determined physical activity related to body mass index (BMI)-defined weight status among youth. We analyzed data from 7-16-year-old boys (n = 338) and girls (n = 337) and used pedometer-assessed physical activity and anthropometric data to derive average steps/day and BMI. Sex-specific criterion-referenced standards for steps/day relating to healthy weight and overweight/obese were determined using the contrasting groups method. Healthy weight children took more steps/day than overweight or obese (boys: 14,413 vs. 12,088, and girls: 12,562 vs. 10,114, respectively; p < .001). The optimal BMI-referenced cut-point emerging flom our sample was 16,000 steps/day for both boys and girls. Our results and those reported elsewhere suggest that youth take insufficient pedometer-determined steps/day to avoid becoming overweight.Item Open Access Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative research(Elsevier, 2010-07) McCormack, Gavin R; Rock, Melanie; Toohey, Ann M; Hignell, DanicaGiven that recent literature reviews on physical activity in urban parks deliberately excluded qualitative findings, we reviewed qualitative research on this topic informed by a published classification scheme based on quantitative research. Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies relied mainly on semi-structured interviews with individuals or in focus groups; only five studies involved in situ observation. Our synthesis aligns with previous quantitative research showing that attributes including safety, aesthetics, amenities, maintenance, and proximity are important for encouraging park use. Furthermore, our synthesis of qualitative research suggests that perceptions of the social environment entwine inextricably with perceptions of the physical environment. If so, physical attributes of parks as well as perceptions of these attributes (formed in relation to broader social contexts) may influence physical activity patterns. Both qualitative and quantitative methods provide useful information for interpreting such patterns, and in particular, when designing and assessing interventions intended to improve the amount and intensity of physical activity.Item Open Access Child and adolescent bicycling injuries involving motor vehicle collisions(2019-03-04) Pitt, Tona M; Nettel-Aguirre, Alberto; McCormack, Gavin R; Howard, Andrew W; Piatkowski, Camilla; Rowe, Brian H; Hagel, Brent EAbstract Background Bicycle-related injuries are among the most common recreational injuries for children in Canada; moreover, bicycle-motor vehicle collisions often result in serious injuries. This study seeks to examine environmental, motorist, and bicyclist characteristics of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions that resulted in police reported severe injuries in youth (< 18 years old) bicyclists, in Alberta, Canada. Findings Using Calgary and Edmonton police collision reports, 423 youth bicycle-motor vehicle collisions were identified from 2010 to 2014. Forty-three (10.2%) of these collisions resulted in major/fatal (severe) injuries. These severe injury cases were compared with the 380 youth bicycle-motor vehicle collisions resulting in minor or no injury (controls) using classification tree and logistic regression analyses. There were no driver or bicyclist characteristics with a significant effect on the odds of severe injury to youth bicyclists; however, lower odds were found on each of: divided roads with no barrier (aOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.13–0.97) or during peak traffic time (aOR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.16–0.99). Conclusion Personal and environment characteristics should be considered in future research and interventions focused on reducing severe youth bicycle-motor vehicle collision injuries.Item Open Access Driving towards obesity: a systematized literature review on the association between motor vehicle travel time and distance and weight status in adults(Elsevier, 2014-09) McCormack, Gavin R; Virk, Jagdeep SBackground: Higher levels of sedentary behavior are associated with adverse health outcomes. Over-reliance on private motor vehicles for transportation is a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic. The objective of this study was to review evidence on the relationship between motor vehicle travel distance and time and weight status among adults. Methods: Keywords associated with driving and weight status were entered into four databases (PubMed, Medline, Transportation Research Information Database, and Web of Science) and retrieved article titles and abstracts screened for relevance. Relevant articles were assess their eligibility for inclusion in the review (English-language articles, a sample ≥16 years of age, included a measure of time or distance travelling in motor vehicle and weight status, and estimated the association between driving and weight status). Results: The database search yielded 2781 articles, from which 88 were deemed relevant and 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the 10 studies included in the review, 8 found a statistically significant positive association between time or distance travelled in a motor vehicle and weight status. Conclusions: Multilevel interventions that make alternatives to driving private motor vehicles more convenient, such as walking and cycling, are needed to promote healthy weight in the adult population.Item Open Access Quantifying the contribution of modifiable risk factors to socio-economic inequities in cancer morbidity and mortality: a nationally representative population-based cohort study(International Epidemiological Association [Associate Organisation], Oxford University Press [University Publisher], 2021-04-12) Nejatinamini, Sara; Godley, Jenny; Minaker, Leia M; Sajobi, Tolulope T; McCormack, Gavin R; Cooke, Martin J; Nykiforuk, Candace I J; Koning, Lawrence de; Olstad, Dana LeeCompared with those with a higher socio-economic position (SEP), individuals with a lower SEP have higher cancer morbidity and mortality. However, the contribution of modifiable risk factors to these inequities is not known. This study aimed to quantify the mediating effects of modifiable risk factors to associations between SEP and cancer morbidity and mortality. Methods: This study used a prospective observational cohort design. We combined eight cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000/2001-2011) as baseline data to identify a cohort of adults (≥35 years) without cancer at the time of survey administration (n = 309 800). The cohort was linked to the Discharge Abstract Database and the Canadian Mortality Database for cancer morbidity and mortality ascertainment. Individuals were followed from the date they completed the Canadian Community Health Survey until 31 March 2013. Dates of individual first hospitalizations for cancer and deaths due to cancer were captured during this time period. SEP was operationalized using a latent variable combining measures of education and household income. Self-reported modifiable risk factors, including smoking, excess alcohol consumption, low fruit-and-vegetable intake, physical inactivity and obesity, were considered as potential mediators. Generalized structural equation modelling was used to estimate the mediating effects of modifiable risk factors in associations between low SEP and cancer morbidity and mortality in the total population and stratified by sex. Results: Modifiable risk factors together explained 45.6% of associations between low SEP and overall cancer morbidity and mortality. Smoking was the most important mediator in the total population and for males, accounting for 15.5% and 40.2% of the total effect, respectively. For females, obesity was the most important mediator. Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors are important mediators of socio-economic inequities in cancer morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, more than half of the variance in these associations remained unexplained. Midstream interventions that target modifiable risk factors may help to alleviate inequities in cancer risk in the short term. However, ultimately, upstream interventions that target structural determinants of health are needed to reduce overall socio-economic inequities in cancer morbidity and mortality.Item Open Access The relations between driving behavior, physical activity and weight status among Canadian adults(Human Kinetics Journals, 2012-03) Swanson, Kenda C; McCormack, Gavin RBackground: Evidence regarding the relative contributions of physical activity (PA) and driving behavior on weight status is limited. This study examined the associations between driving and PA behavior and weight status among Canadian adults. Methods: A random cross-section of Calgarian adults (n = 1026) completed a telephone-interview and a self-administered questionnaire. Weekly physical activity time, daily driving time, BMI, motor vehicle access, and demographic characteristics were captured. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between driving minutes (0-209, 219-419, 420-839, 840-1679, and ≥ 1680 min/week), motor vehicle access, sufficient PA (210 min/week of moderate-intensity PA or 90 min/week of vigorous-intensity PA), and the likelihood of being 1) overweight/obese vs. healthy weight and 2) obese only vs. healthy/overweight. Results: Compared with driving ≤ 209 min/week, driving 840 to 1679 min/week significantly (P < .05) increased the likelihood of being overweight/obese (OR 2.08). Insufficient PA was positively associated with being overweight/obese (OR 1.43). Each hour/week of driving was associated with a 1.6% reduction in the odds of achieving sufficient PA. A 3-fold increase (OR 3.73) in the likelihood of overweight was found among insufficiently active individuals who drove 210 to 419 min/week compared with sufficiently active individuals who drove ≤ 209 min/week. Conclusion: Interventions that decrease driving time and increase PA participation may be important for reducing weight among Canadian adults.Item Open Access The relationship between cluster-analysis derived walkability and local recreational and transportation walking among Canadian adults(Elsevier, 2012-09) McCormack, Gavin R; Friedenreich, Christine; Sandalack, Beverly A; Giles-Corti, Billie; Doyle-Baker, Patricia K; Shiell, AlanWe investigated the association between objectively-assessed neighborhood walkability and local walking among adults. Two independent random cross-sectional samples of Calgary (Canada) residents were recruited. Neighborhood-based walking, attitude towards walking, neighborhood self-selection, and socio-demographic characteristics were captured. Built environmental attributes underwent a two-staged cluster analysis which identified three neighborhood types (HW: high walkable; MW: medium walkable; LW: low walkable). Adjusting for all other characteristics, MW (OR 1.40, p < 0.05) and HW (OR 1.34, approached p < 0.05) neighborhood residents were more likely than LW neighborhood residents to participate in neighborhood-based transportation walking. HW neighborhood residents spent 30-min/wk more on neighborhood-based transportation walking than both LW and MW neighborhood residents. MW neighborhood residents spent 14-min/wk more on neighborhood-based recreational walking than LW neighborhood residents. Neighborhoods with a highly connected pedestrian network, large mix of businesses, high population density, high access to sidewalks and pathways, and many bus stops support local walking.Item Open Access Subpopulation differences in the association between neighborhood urban form and neighborhood-based physical activity(Elsevier, 2014-07) McCormack, Gavin R; Shiell, Alan; Doyle-Baker, Patricia K; Friedenreich, Christine M; Sandalack, Beverly AThis study investigated whether associations between the neighborhood built environment and neighborhood-based physical activity (PA) varied by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. A random sample of adults (n=2006) completed telephone- and self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires captured PA, sociodemographic, and health-related characteristics. Neighborhood-based PA (MET-minutes/week) was compared across low, medium, and high walkable neighborhoods for each sociodemographic (sex, age, dependents, education, income, motor vehicle access, and dog ownership) and health-status (general health and weight status) subpopulation. With few exceptions, subpopulations residing in high walkable neighborhoods undertook more (p<0.05) neighborhood-based PA than their counterparts in less walkable neighborhoods. Improving neighborhood walkability is a potentially effective population health intervention for increasing neighborhood-based PA.Item Open Access The British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program reduces short-term household food insecurity among adults with low incomes: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.(ELSEVIER, 2023-10-06T06:00:00Z) Aktary, Michelle L; Dunn, Sharlette; Sajobi, Tolulope; O'Hara, Heather; Leblanc, Peter; McCormack, Gavin R; Caron-Roy, Stephanie; Lee, Yun Yun; Reimer, Raylene A; Minaker, Leia M; Raine, Kim D; Godley, Jenny; Downs, Shauna; Nykiforuk, Candace I J; Olstad, Dana LeeThe British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program (BC FMNCP) provides households with low incomes with coupons to purchase healthy foods from farmers' markets.Item Open Access The contribution of modifiable risk factors to socioeconomic inequities in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality: a nationally representative population-based cohort study(Elsevier, 2023-04-12) Nejatinamini, Sara; Campbell, David JT; Godley, Jenny; Minaker, Leia M; Sajobi, Tolulope T; McCormack, Gavin R; Olstad, Dana LeeThis study examined the individual and joint effects of modifiable risk factors mediating the associations between socioeconomic position (SEP) and morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in a nationally representative sample of adults in Canada. Participants in the Canadian Community Health Survey (n=289,800) were followed longitudinally for CVD morbidity and mortality using administrative health and mortality data. SEP was measured as a latent variable consisting of household income and individual educational attainment. Mediators included smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The primary outcome was CVD morbidity and mortality, defined as the first fatal/nonfatal CVD event during follow-up (median 6.2 years). Generalized structural equation modeling tested the mediating effects of modifiable risk factors in associations between SEP and CVD in the total population and stratified by sex. Lower SEP was associated with 2.5 times increased odds of CVD morbidity and mortality (OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 2.28, 2.76). Modifiable risk factors mediated 74% of associations between SEP and CVD morbidity and mortality in the total population and were more important mediators of associations in females (83%) than males (62%). Smoking mediated these associations independently and jointly with other mediators. The mediating effects of physical inactivity were through joint mediating effects with obesity, diabetes or hypertension. There were additional joint mediating effects of obesity through diabetes or hypertension in females. Findings point to modifiable risk factors as important targets for interventions along with interventions that target structural determinants of health to reduce socioeconomic inequities in CVD.Item Open Access Workplace neighbourhood built environment and workers’ physically-active and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review of observational studies(2020-11-20) Lin, Chien-Yu; Koohsari, Mohammad J; Liao, Yung; Ishii, Kaori; Shibata, Ai; Nakaya, Tomoki; McCormack, Gavin R; Hadgraft, Nyssa; Owen, Neville; Oka, KoichiroAbstract Background Many desk-based workers can spend more than half of their working hours sitting, with low levels of physical activity. Workplace neighbourhood built environment may influence workers’ physical activities and sedentary behaviours on workdays. We reviewed and synthesised evidence from observational studies on associations of workplace neighbourhood attributes with domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour and suggested research priorities for improving the quality of future relevant studies. Methods Published studies were obtained from nine databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, Transport Research International Documentation, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, and CINAHL) and crosschecked by Google Scholar. Observational studies with quantitative analyses estimating associations between workplace neighbourhood built environment attributes and workers’ physical activity or sedentary behaviour were included. Studies were restricted to those published in English language peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2019. Results A total of 55 studies and 455 instances of estimated associations were included. Most instances of potential associations of workplace neighbourhood built environment attributes with total or domain-specific (occupational, transport, and recreational) physical activity were non-significant. However, destination-related attributes (i.e., longer distances from workplace to home and access to car parking) were positively associated with transport-related sedentary behaviour (i.e., car driving). Conclusions The findings reinforce the case for urban design policies on designing mixed-use neighbourhoods where there are opportunities to live closer to workplaces and have access to a higher density of shops, services, and recreational facilities. Studies strengthening correspondence between the neighbourhood built environment attributes and behaviours are needed to identify and clarify potential relationships. Protocol registration The protocol of this systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 2 December 2019 (registration number: CRD42019137341 ).