S213 Hallal is with the Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. Reis is with the Pontiff Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil, and the Univer- sidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil. Brownson and Parra are with the Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Brownson and Hoehner are with the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis. Simões is with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2010, 7(Suppl 2), S213-S222 © 2010 Human Kinetics, Inc. Association Between Perceived Environmental Attributes and Physical Activity Among Adults in Recife, Brazil Pedro C. Hallal, Rodrigo S. Reis, Diana C. Parra, Christine Hoehner, Ross C. Brownson, and Eduardo J. Simões Background: To evaluate the association between perceived environmental factors and leisure-time and transport-related physical activity. Methods: A random-digit-dialing telephone cross-sectional survey in Recife, Brazil, was conducted among individuals aged 16 years or older (n = 2046). Leisure-time and transport-related physical activity were measured using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Three outcome variables were used: leisure-time physical activity (min/wk), transport-related physical activ- ity (min/wk), and walking for leisure (min/wk). A cutoff of 150 min/wk was used for all outcome variables. The environmental module of the questionnaire was based on the short version of the Neighborhood Envi- ronment Walkability Scale (A-NEWS), and included 12 environmental items. Results: The proportions of subjects reaching the 150-minutes per week threshold were 30.6% for leisure-time physical activity, 26.6% for transport-related physical activity and 18.2% for walking for leisure. Lack of sidewalks and low access to recreational facilities were associated with a lower likelihood of performing 150 minutes per week or more of leisure-time physical activity. Lack of sidewalks was associated with low levels of walking for leisure. Neighborhood aesthetics was inversely associated with transport-related physical activity. Conclusions: Lack of sidewalks and low access to recreational facilities were predictors of low levels of leisure-time physical activity, suggesting that policy strategies aimed at improving these environmental features may be warranted. Keywords: motor activity, developing countries, environment and public health, safety There is now compelling evidence that environmen- tal factors are associated with physical activity at the population level. 1–3 Both objective measures of the built environment and perceived environment attributes are associated with physical activity. 4,5 Leisure physical activ- ity may be most affected by access to, and characteristics of, public and private recreation facilities. 6 Transportation physical activity may be most related to proximity and directness of routes from home to destinations (known as “walkability”) as well as characteristics of the walking and cycling infrastructure, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and trails. 4 However, most of the evidence in this feld is derived from high-income countries. 3 External validity of studies on the association between physical activity and environmental factors is of concern, because different environments may lead to different factors being associated with physical activity; this highlights the need for local-level studies. This study presents the results from a community intervention evaluation conducted as part of project GUIA (Guide for Useful Interventions for Physical Activity in Brazil and Latin America), which aims to examine and promote evidence-based physical activity strategies in Latin America, particularly in Brazil. The frst phase of the project included the assessment of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based physi- cal activity interventions in Latin America. 7 The second phase evaluated 2 ongoing interventions in Brazil. In 2007, the project team carried out a phone survey aimed at evaluating the intervention “Academia da Cidade—ACP” (“city gyms”), a program in Recife, a northeast city of the country. 8 We used data from the same survey to evaluate the association of perceived environmental factors with leisure-time and transport-related physical activity. Methods A cross-sectional random-digit-dialing telephone survey was carried out in 2007 in Recife, Brazil. Recife is a city located in northeastern Brazil and the ffth largest