Youth and Adult Visitation and Physical Activity Intensity at Rural and Urban Parks

Perceived Urban Environment Attributes and Device-Measured Physical Activity in Latin America: An 8-Nation Study

INTRODUCTION

Attributes of the neighborhood-built environment are associated with self-reported physical activity, but only a few studies have concentrated on device-measured physical activity in Latin America. This study examines the associations of perceived neighborhood-built environment attributes, device-measured sedentary time, and light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults from 8 Latin American countries.

METHODS

Data from Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud adult study, an observational multicountry study (N=2,478), were analyzed in 2020. Data were collected between 2014 and 2015. Perceived neighborhood-built environment attributes were measured using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey. Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity data were collected using accelerometers.

RESULTS

No associations between perceived neighborhood-built environment attributes and sedentary time were found. Positive perceptions of walking/cycling facilities (β=6.50, 95% CI=2.12, 10.39) were associated with more light-intensity physical activity. Perceptions of better aesthetics (Argentina) and better walking/cycling facilities (Brazil and Ecuador) were positively associated with light-intensity physical activity. Land use mix-diversity (β=0.14, 95% CI=0.03, 0.25), walking/cycling facilities (β=0.16, 95% CI=0.05, 0.27), aesthetics (β=0.16, 95% CI=0.02, 0.30), and safety from traffic (β=0.18, 95% CI=0.05, 0.24) were positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Land use mix-diversity, street connectivity, and safety from traffic were positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Venezuela.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have implications for policy recommendations, which can guide policies to promote physical activity in the region. Land use mix-diversity, walking/cycling facilities, aesthetics, and safety from traffic can maintain or increase the levels of light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among Latin American adults.

Study on landscape evaluation and optimization strategy of Central Park in Qingkou Town

This article mainly discusses the evaluation and optimization of the green space utilization value of comprehensive parks used by people in dense urban areas based on the desire for green and healthy living in the postepidemic era. As a qualitative study of urban parks, this study builds an evaluation system based on the American landscape performance series and combines it with comprehensive indicators of China’s urban parks, including environmental performance (such as park planning, infrastructure, trails, and vegetation), health performance (such as cultural education, park activities, and transportation accessibility) economic performance (such as tourist consumption and stimulating the development of surrounding construction) and three other aspects: conducting a site evaluation; evaluating observed behavior, interviews and questionnaires; and performing the analytic hierarchy process–coefficient of variation weight comprehensive evaluation analysis. Additionally, the park comprehensive index, land use index, traffic convenience, park vitality index and other dynamic changes are analyzed over time. The purpose is to explore the foundation of urban parks after the epidemic. The role of the urban park environment in sustainable ecological development is verified, and appropriate optimization and improvement actions are determined.

Physical Activity Participation in Rural Areas: A Case Study

Sport participation and physical activity promotion have been intensively studied, especially regarding large cities. However, in many cases, rural municipalities have comparatively reduced services, including health care, due to the low profitability that these have for companies and entities. In this sense, the purpose of this article was to describe a case study of the promotion of physical activity in rural areas based on the results of a European project. Carried out in a rural municipality of around 8500 inhabitants with a population density of less than 25 inhabitants/km², the project's purpose was the promotion of autonomous physical activity among its inhabitants. For this, a diagnostic analysis of the sports areas of the environment and a survey of physical activity habits among the population were carried out. A series of routes were designed, marked, and signposted, and canopies with explanatory posters about the possibilities of healthy physical activity and recommendations were added. Free-use facilities were installed, and opening events were carried out in such a way as to stimulate sports practice among the population. This article presents the results obtained from the analysis, as well as the possibilities of replication in other municipalities with similar needs.

Built-environment attributes associated with refugee children's physical activity: a narrative review and research agenda

Research has identified built environmental attributes associated with children’s physical activity (PA); however, less is known for environmental correlates of refugee children’s PA. This narrative review summarised the current evidence of associations between built environment attributes and refugee children’s PA. Six databases were searched with three sets of terms related to exposure (built environment); outcome (PA); and target population (refugee children aged 6–12 years). Eight studies (one quantitative; seven qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Key PA barriers were limited play space and lack of neighbourhood safety. Design of refugee facilities and surrounding environments should provide better access to formal, informal and safe spaces for children’s play.

Association between Urban Greenspace and Health: A Systematic Review of Literature

The current review aimed to explore the association between urban greenspaces and health indicators. In particular, our aims were to analyze the association between publicly accessible urban greenspaces exposure and two selected health outcomes (objectively measured physical activity (PA) and mental health outcomes (MH)). Two electronic databases—PubMed/Medline and Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE)—were searched from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2020. Only articles in English were considered. Out of 356 retrieved articles, a total of 34 papers were included in our review. Of those, 15 assessed the association between urban greenspace and PA and 19 dealt with MH. Almost all the included studies found a positive association between urban greenspace and both PA and MH, while a few demonstrated a non-effect or a negative effect on MH outcomes. However, only guaranteeing access is not enough. Indeed, important elements are maintenance, renovation, closeness to residential areas, planning of interactive activities, and perceived security aspects. Overall, despite some methodological limitations of the included studies, the results have shown almost univocally that urban greenspaces harbour potentially beneficial effects on physical and mental health and well-being.

Satellite Imaging-Based Residential Greenness and Accelerometry Measured Physical Activity at Midlife-Population-Based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study

BACKGROUND

Recently, the importance of light physical activity (LPA) for health has been emphasized, and residential greenness has been positively linked to the level of LPA and a variety of positive health outcomes. However, people spend less time in green environments because of urbanization and modern sedentary leisure activities.

AIMS

In this population-based study, we investigated the association between objectively measured residential greenness and accelerometry measured physical activity (PA), with a special interest in LPA and gender differences.

METHODS

The study was based on the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (5433 members). Participants filled in a postal questionnaire and underwent clinical examinations and wore a continuous measurement of PA with wrist-worn Polar Active Activity Monitor accelerometers for two weeks. The volume of PA (metabolic equivalent of task or MET) was used to describe the participant's total daily activity (light: 2-3.49 MET; moderate: 3.5-4.99 MET; vigorous: 5-7.99 MET; very vigorous: ≥8 MET). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to assess the features of each individual's residential environment. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used for the objective quantification of residential greenness. Multiple linear regression and a generalized additive model (GAM) were used to analyze the association between residential greenness and the amount of PA at different intensity levels.

RESULTS

Residential greenness (NDVI) was independently associated with LPA (unadjusted β = 174; CI = 140, 209) and moderate physical activity (MPA) (unadjusted β = 75; CI = 48, 101). In the adjusted model, residential greenness was positively and significantly associated with LPA (adjusted β = 70; CI = 26, 114). In men, residential greenness was positively and significantly associated with LPA (unadjusted β = 224; CI = 173, 275), MPA (unadjusted β = 75; CI = 48, 101), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (unadjusted β = 89; CI = 25, 152). In women, residential greenness was positively related to LPA (unadjusted β = 142; CI = 96, 188) and inversely associated with MPA (unadjusted β = -22; CI = -36, -8), vigorous/very vigorous physical activity (VPA/VVPA) (unadjusted β = -49; CI = -84, -14), and MVPA (unadjusted β = -71; CI = -113, -29). In the final adjusted models, residential greenness was significantly associated only with the amount of LPA in men (adjusted β = 140; CI = 75, 204).

CONCLUSIONS

Residential greenness was positively associated with LPA in both genders, but the association remained significant after adjustments only in men. Residential greenness may provide a supportive environment for promoting LPA.

Association of neighborhood parks with child health in the United States

While there is evidence that parks support pediatric health, there have been no national studies looking at both physical and mental health. We assessed whether the presence of a neighborhood park is associated with pediatric physical or mental health across the U.S. using a nationally representative cross-sectional random sample of American children ages 0-17. Caregivers reported on the park presence in their child's neighborhood and the child's physical activity, screen-time, sleep, weight, and diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Covariates included child and family sociodemographics and, for 29 states, neighborhood urbanicity. Caregivers reported on 49,146 children (mean age 9.4 years; 49% female). There were 11,791 (24%) children living in neighborhoods lacking a park; children in non-urban locations (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.40-1.67) or below the federal poverty level (aOR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.38-1.58) had higher odds of lacking a park. Irrespective of sociodemographics, children lacking parks were more likely to be physically inactive (aOR1.36, 95% CI 1.24, 1.48), have excessive screen-time (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.14, 1.25), or obtain inadequate sleep (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.18, 1.29). Children without parks were more likely obese (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.21, 1.43), overweight (aOR 1.25, 95%CI 1.17, 1.33), or diagnosed with ADHD (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12, 1.29), but not more anxious or depressed (aOR = 1.04, 95%CI 0.97, 1.11). Associations between parks and pediatric physical and mental health suggests that the provision of neighborhood parks could represent a low-cost childhood health intervention.

Google Street View Derived Built Environment Indicators and Associations with State-Level Obesity, Physical Activity, and Chronic Disease Mortality in the United States

Previous studies have demonstrated that there is a high possibility that the presence of certain built environment characteristics can influence health outcomes, especially those related to obesity and physical activity. We examined the associations between select neighborhood built environment indicators (crosswalks, non-single family home buildings, single-lane roads, and visible wires), and health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality, at the state level. We utilized 31,247,167 images collected from Google Street View to create indicators for neighborhood built environment characteristics using deep learning techniques. Adjusted linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between aggregated built environment indicators and state-level health outcomes. Our results indicated that the presence of a crosswalk was associated with reductions in obesity and premature mortality. Visible wires were associated with increased obesity, decreased physical activity, and increases in premature mortality, diabetes mortality, and cardiovascular mortality (however, these results were not significant). Non-single family homes were associated with decreased diabetes and premature mortality, as well as increased physical activity and park and recreational access. Single-lane roads were associated with increased obesity and decreased park access. The findings of our study demonstrated that built environment features may be associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes.

The impact of social capital on physical activity and nutrition in China: the mediating effect of health literacy

Background

Physical activity and good nutrition are important behavioral factors in promoting health and preventing disease. It is important to understand the factors affecting physical activity and nutrition. The purpose of this study was to explore whether social capital has an effect on physical activity and nutrition, and whether health literacy plays a mediating role between social capital and physical activity as well as nutrition.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed in a certain district of Shanghai in March and April 2017. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire, which included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, social capital, health literacy and health-promoting lifestyle profile-II. Health-promoting lifestyle profile-II measures the behaviours or habits of physical activity and healthy nutrition. An explore factor analysis of the principal components with varimax rotation was carried out on the social capital scale. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the sociodemographic of participants. Mediation analysis was performed using the bootstrapping tests to examine whether health literacy mediate the relationship between social capital and physical activity as well as nutrition.

Results

The explore factor analysis results showed that social capital has five dimensions, namely social participation, social support, social network, control over life and feelings about the community. There is a positive correlation between social capital, health literacy, physical activity and nutrition. The correlation coefficient varied from 0.135 to 0.594. Mediation analysis demonstrated health literacy played a partial mediating effect between social capital and physical activity as well as nutrition. In the relationship between physical activity and social capital, the indirect effect of health literacy accounted for 8.20 to 12.65% of the total effect. In the relationship between nutrition and social capital, the mediation effect of health literacy accounted for 4.93 to 12.71% of the total effect.

Conclusion

Social capital can promote physical activity and nutrition by disseminating health information. Enhancing the social capital of residents will help increase physical activity and develop healthy eating habits. Attention should also be paid to the improvement of residents’ health literacy.

Organised Physical Activity in the Forests of the Warsaw and Tricity Agglomerations, Poland

Research Highlights: The achieved results indicate that in the period of 2010–2016, the number of sporting events (running, cycling and walking) as well as the number of participants has increased many times. Methods: A geostatistical method, i.e., kriging, was used to check the distance-based relationship between agglomerations proximity and sporting events. The questionnaire surveys were used to determine the reasons for physical activity in the forest. Results: The analysis of the impact of the scope of the urban agglomerations on the number of organised physical activities proved that, in both cases (Warsaw and Tricity), most events take place in forests located close to these cities. The larger the distance to Warsaw or Tricity, the lower the number of sporting events and the lower the number of participants. The reasons why people take up physical activity are mainly to improve their health and physical condition, reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Conclusions: The conducted research indicates a significant increase in the importance of non-productive functions of forests located in the vicinity of urban agglomerations, as well as the need for continuous monitoring of actions taken by foresters to promote active lifestyles.