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Menhas R, Dai J, Ashraf MA, M Noman S, Khurshid S, Mahmood S, Weng Y, Ahmad Laar R, Sang X, Kamran M, Shahzad B, Iqbal W. Physical Inactivity, Non-Communicable Diseases and National Fitness Plan of China for Physical Activity. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:2319-2331. [PMID: 34113188 PMCID: PMC8184286 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s258660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND China has the world's largest population, going under health transition due to industrialization, urbanization, and a sedentary lifestyle. About 82% of China's disease burden is due to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Physical activity (active travel) is the best preventive measure against NCDs. The Chinese government has introduced several steps to improve national fitness and overcome NCDs among the aging population. Exercise and sports play a vital role in promoting physical activity and helpful in accomplishing the national fitness level for Healthy China under the national fitness plan (NFP). OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to explore the role of national fitness plan (NFP) in promoting physical activity and health well-being preventing NCDs under built environment intervention. METHODS The study was exploratory, and the mixed-method approach was used to analyze the primary and secondary data. Quantitative content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect the primary data from those individuals rich in knowledge about the National Fitness Plan (NFP) of China and its role in promoting physical activity for physical fitness. RESULTS The majority of the participants (32.0%) said that the national fitness plan helps promote sports environment and health. About 28.0% reported that NFP helps promote cycling and walk environments for physical activity and health promotion and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). CONCLUSION Participation in physical exercise and sports is the preferred approach to prevent different diseases. In the context of rising active living among the Chinese people, the facilities such as built environment and green parks under the national fitness plan (NFP) for sports play a crucial role in the mitigation of NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Menhas
- Research Center of Sports Social Sciences, School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianhui Dai
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Azeem Ashraf
- Research Institute of Educational Science, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Muhammad Azeem Ashraf Research Institute of Educational Science, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China Email
| | - Sohail M Noman
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sumaira Khurshid
- School of Education and Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China, 641112
| | - Sajid Mahmood
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21120, Pakistan
| | - Yu Weng
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rizwan Ahmad Laar
- School of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuehui Sang
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Kamran
- NRSP Microfinance Bank Shorkot City Branch, Shorkot, 35050, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Babar Shahzad
- School of Energy, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Waseem Iqbal
- School of Energy, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
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Ma X, Cao R, Wang J. Effects of Psychological Factors on Modal Shift from Car to Dockless Bike Sharing: A Case Study of Nanjing, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E3420. [PMID: 31540094 PMCID: PMC6765915 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of dockless bike sharing in recent years has reduced the usage of private cars, especially usage for short-distance trips (within 2 km). In this paper, a modified technology acceptance model (TAM) is proposed to investigate from the psychological perspective drivers' willingness to shift to dockless bike sharing. The modified TAM includes the perceived usefulness of dockless bike sharing, perceived ease-of-use of dockless bike sharing, perceived health of dockless bike sharing, attitudes toward dockless bike sharing, and willingness to shift to dockless bike sharing. Data are obtained through offline communications with car drivers. The results show that two-thirds of car drivers are willing to use dockless bike sharing in short-distance trips. Perceived health, perceived ease-of-use, and perceived usefulness have significant positive effects on people's attitudes toward dockless bike sharing. As expected, people's attitudes toward dockless bike sharing are positively correlated with their willingness to shift. Policy implications are discussed to prompt the modal shift from private cars to dockless bike sharing according to the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Ma
- School of Transportation, Southeast University, Dongnandaxue Road 2, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Ruiming Cao
- Architects & Engineers Co., LTD. of Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Jianbiao Wang
- School of Transportation, Southeast University, Dongnandaxue Road 2, Nanjing 211189, China.
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Gao J, Kamphuis CBM, Dijst M, Helbich M. The role of the natural and built environment in cycling duration in the Netherlands. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2018; 15:82. [PMID: 30157889 PMCID: PMC6116365 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-018-0715-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cycling for transportation has the potential to contribute to an increase in people’s physical activity levels. A growing body of evidence links the natural and the built environment to cycling. Whereas previous studies were mostly done within one city or one region, the present study covers the whole of the Netherlands, allowing an investigation of whether associations between environmental characteristics and cycling are context-specific. The study examines the extent to which objectively measured natural and built environment characteristics contribute to cycling duration in the Netherlands, as well as the differential effect of environmental characteristics on cycling duration by municipality size. Methods Our sample from the Dutch National Travel Survey 2010–2014 comprised 110,027 people aged 20–89 years, residing in 3163 four-digit postal code areas, nested within 387 municipalities across the whole of the Netherlands. Multilevel Tobit regression models were fitted to assess the associations between the natural and the built environment with average daily cycling duration (in minutes), while adjusting for individual and household characteristics. Interaction effects of natural and built environment characteristics and municipality size on cycling duration were also investigated. Results Higher address density, more bus stops, and shorter distance from home to the nearest train station were positively related to cycling duration. Respondents were more likely to cycle on days with higher temperatures, less wind, and less precipitation. Interaction tests showed that increased street density and address density were less cycling-promotive in small urban areas compared to medium or large cities. On the other hand, the positive association between number of bus stops and cycling duration was weaker in the largest and medium-sized cities compared to small urban and rural areas. Conclusions Interactions suggest that relations between environmental characteristics and cycling duration are context-specific (i.e., dependent on circumstances that differ between highly urbanized and less urbanized areas). Our findings need to be replicated in other countries to gain more insight into the interplay between environmental factors and municipality size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Carlijn B M Kamphuis
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Dijst
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Helbich
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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The Relationship between the Neighborhood Built Environment and Active Transportation among Adults: A Systematic Literature Review. URBAN SCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/urbansci1030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Active transportation (AT) has aroused great interest in recent years as it may benefit public health and reduce the dependency on cars. This article aims to summarize recent findings on the relationship between the objectively measured built environment and AT among adults, to examine if different study designs may generate different results, and to provide directions for future research. A systematic literature review of journal articles from different databases was conducted. Fifty-one articles published between 2005 and 2017 were identified, and twelve built environment factors were extracted. The results showed that residential density, land use mix, street connectivity, retail land use, walkability, sidewalk, and access to destinations had a convincing positive relationship with walking for transport. Regarding cycling for transport, while street connectivity and bike lane showed a convincing positive relationship, neighborhood aesthetics and access to destinations showed a convincing negative relationship. Studies that use different analyzed geographic units and different measurements of AT may generate different results, so choosing suitable geographic units and measurement of AT is necessary to reduce the mismatch in the relationships. In addition, we need more longitudinal studies, more studies on cycling for transport, and more studies in countries outside North America and Australasia.
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Hong J. How does the seasonality influence utilitarian walking behaviour in different urbanization settings in Scotland? Soc Sci Med 2016; 162:143-50. [PMID: 27352289 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between the built environment and walking has been analyzed for decades. However, the seasonality effects on the relationship between the built environment and walking have not been well examined even though weather is one of the key determinants of walking. Therefore, this study used 2007-8 Scottish Household Survey data collected over two years and estimated the interaction effects between the urbanization setting (i.e., residential locations: urban, town and rural areas) and seasons (i.e., spring, summer, autumn and winter) on walking. Scottish Urban-rural classification scheme is measured based on the population and access to large cities, and used as a key independent variable. The number of walking days for specific purposes such as work or shopping (utilitarian walking) during the past 7 days is used as a dependent variable. The results show that there are significant geographical variations of seasonality effect on utilitarian walking. That is, people living in rural areas are more sensitive to seasonality impacts than those living in urban areas. In addition, we found that the association between urbanization setting and utilitarian walking varies across seasons, indicating that their relationship can be miss-estimated if we ignore the seasonality effects. Therefore, policy makers and practitioners should consider the seasonality effects to evaluate the effectiveness of land use policy correctly. Finally, we still find the significant association between the urbanization setting and utilitarian walking behaviour with the consideration of seasonality effects, supporting the claim of New Urbanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyun Hong
- The University of Glasgow, Department of Urban Studies, 7 Lilybank Gardens, G12 8RZ, United Kingdom.
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