The Association Between Built Environment Features and Physical Activity in the Australian Context: a Synthesis of the Literature

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2016 Jun 10

PMID 27277114

Citations 11

Authors

Belen Zapata-Diomedi

J Lennert Veerman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence indicating that the built environment is a determinant of physical activity. However, despite the well-established health benefits of physical activity this is rarely considered in urban planning. We summarised recent Australian evidence for the association built environment-physical activity among adults. This summary aims to inform policy makers who advocate for the consideration of health in urban planning.

Methods: A combination of built environment and physical activity terms were used to systematically identify relevant peer reviewed and grey literature.

Results: A total of 23 studies were included, providing 139 tests of associations between specific built environment features and physical activity. Of the total, 84 relationships using objective measures of built environment attributes were evaluated, whereas 55 relationships using self-reported measures were evaluated. Our results indicate that walkable neighbourhoods with a wide range of local destinations to go to, as well as a diverse use of land, encourage physical activity among their residents.

Conclusions: This research provides a summary of recent Australian evidence on built environments that are most favourable for physical activity. Features of walkability and availability of destinations within walking distance should be accounted for in the development or redevelopment of urban areas. Our findings emphasise the importance of urban planning for health via its impact on population levels of physical activity.

Citing Articles

Walking Behavior in Temuco, Chile: The Contribution of Built Environment and Socio-Demographic Factors.

Paydar M, Arangua Calzado J, Kamani Fard A Behav Sci (Basel). 2022; 12(5).

PMID: 35621430 PMC: 9137913. DOI: 10.3390/bs12050133.

How the Built Environment Promotes Residents' Physical Activity: The Importance of a Holistic People-Centered Perspective.

Zhang Y, van Dijk T, Wagenaar C Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(9).

PMID: 35564990 PMC: 9101533. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095595.

Measuring the association of objective and perceived neighborhood environment with physical activity in older adults: challenges and implications from a systematic review.

Peters M, Muellmann S, Christianson L, Stalling I, Bammann K, Drell C Int J Health Geogr. 2020; 19(1):47.

PMID: 33168094 PMC: 7654613. DOI: 10.1186/s12942-020-00243-z.

Associations of perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity with metabolic syndrome among Mexican-Americans adults: a cross sectional examination.

Joseph R, Vega-Lopez S BMC Res Notes. 2020; 13(1):306.

PMID: 32591027 PMC: 7320589. DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05143-w.

Walkability and its association with walking/cycling and body mass index among adults in different regions of Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from five German cohorts.

Kartschmit N, Sutcliffe R, Sheldon M, Moebus S, Greiser K, Hartwig S BMJ Open. 2020; 10(4):e033941.

PMID: 32350013 PMC: 7213856. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033941.

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