Status and influencing factors of walking among middle-aged and elderly people in Shanghai, China

ObjectiveTo explore the situation of walking and its related factors among middle-age and elder community residents and to provide reference for promotion of walking for health. MethodsData on wakling status during 7 days were collected with pedometer among 900 common residents ≥46 years old selected with multi-stage random cluster sampling from 80 neighborhood committees of 3 communities.T-test,analysis of variance (ANOVA),and optimal scaling regression model were used in data analyses. ResultsThe results of optimal scaling regression showed that gender(P=0.049),age(P=0.031,education (P=0.001),community type(P<0.001),self-report health(P=0.011),body mass index (BMI) (P=0.040),and exercise time(P=0.034)were significant influencing factors for 7 days' total walking steps in the residents.The average total walking steps among the residents was 9 342.423(±3 687.230),with an average total effiecient steps of 2 274.726(±2 534.046).Only 38.9% of the residents walked 10 thousands steps per day recommended by the Ministry of Health. ConclusionSome social demographic characteristics,health condition,and daily living behavior influence walking status among middle-aged and elderly people in Shanghai city.