Associations of the audited residential neighborhood built-environment attributes with objectively-measured sedentary time among adults: a systematic review

Park proximity and all-day and time-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour in older adults

BACKGROUND

Proximity to parks has been suggested as a factor influencing physical activity in older adults. However, it remains unclear the optimal distance between residences and parks for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary time and whether these associations vary by the time of day. We examined whether the proximity to neighbourhood parks at varying distances is associated with all-day and time-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour in older adults.

METHODS

Data were collected from 214 older adults receiving hospital services in Taipei, Taiwan. The number of parks within 400m, 800m, and 1,600m of participants' residences. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour, stratified by time of day (morning, afternoon, and evening), were measured using accelerometers. Adjusted linear regression models were used to estimate associations of park proximity with activity and sedentary outcomes.

RESULTS

Parks located within 400m and 800m of participants' residences were more markedly associated with longer time in physical activity and less sedentary time compared to parks located 1,600m away. A greater number of parks within 400m and 800m was positively associated with walking steps and light-intensity physical activity while both distances were negatively associated with sedentary time. The associations between park proximity and behavioural outcomes were mainly attributable to that during the afternoon and evening.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that favourable access to parks within 800m of older adults' residences is associated with more physical activity and less sedentary time, particularly during the afternoon and evening. Future longitudinal studies are required to corroborate these associations.

Impact of economic growth on physical activity and sedentary behaviors: a Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

This study systematically reviewed scientific evidence regarding the impact of economic growth on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors.

METHODS

A keyword and reference search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO from the inception of an electronic bibliographic database to November 2021. Studies that met all of the following criteria were included in the review: (1) study designs: observational studies; (2) study subjects: people of all ages; (3) exposure: macroeconomic growth; (4) outcomes: PA or sedentary behaviors/sitting time.

RESULTS

15 studies were identified. Eight among 12 studies found economic growth positively associated with at least one domain/measure of PA, whereas the remaining four found an inverse relationship. One of two studies examined the association of economic growth and physical inactivity found a positive relationship, while another found no significant relationship. Four studies examined the associations between economic growth and sedentary behaviors, and the results were inconclusive. The impact of economic growth on PA is through three main pathways-(a) building and maintaining parks and green spaces, (b) adoption of the modern workplace and high technology, and (c) motorized transportation.

CONCLUSION

Building and maintaining parks and green spaces can effectively promote leisure time physical activity and active commute in developed countries, whereas promoting workplace and transportation-related PA could be prioritized in developing nations. Future research calls for longitudinal study design and further exploration of macro-environmental factors. Policymakers and stakeholders should be informed about the potential PA reduction resulting from economic growth and develop preventive strategies to alleviate the problem.

Built Environments and Cardiovascular Health: REVIEW AND IMPLICATIONS

PURPOSE

This review presents a general overview of the state of evidence on the relationships between neighborhood built environments and cardiovascular health outcomes among adults. We also summarize relevant literature on the associations of built environments with active living behaviors (physical activity [PA] and sedentary behavior), as they are considered as key behavioral pathways.

REVIEW METHODS

We identified recently published systematic reviews assessing associations of built environment attributes with cardiovascular health outcomes or active living behaviors. We summarized findings of the key systematic reviews and presented findings of pertinent empirical studies, where appropriate.

SUMMARY

Increasing evidence suggests that living in a place supportive of engaging in PA for transportation (eg, walkability features) and recreation (eg, parks) can be protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Places conducive to higher levels of sedentary travel (ie, prolonged sitting in cars) may have adverse effects on cardiovascular health. The built environment of where people live can affect how active they are and subsequently their cardiovascular health. Clinical professionals are encouraged to consider the built environment features of where their patients live in counseling, as this may assist them to understand potential opportunities or barriers to active living and to propose a suitable CVD prevention strategy.