Park and neighbourhood environmental characteristics associated with park-based physical activity among children in a high-density city

Abstract Background Urban parks are critical environmental resources in which adolescents engage in physical activity (PA). Evidence on the associations between park environmental characteristics and park-based PA in adolescents is mixed, particularly for high-density cities. Evidence is also lacking concerning the moderating role of neighbourhood socioeconomic status on the park-PA relationships. The current study aimed to examine the associations between park environmental characteristics and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in parks among adolescents in Hong Kong and the moderating effect of neighbourhood income on these associations. Methods A cross-sectional study involving direct observations of adolescents was conducted in 32 randomly selected urban parks in Hong Kong. Park environmental characteristics were measured using the Community Park Audit Tool. Park-based MVPA among adolescents was measured using the System for Observation Play and Recreation in Communities. Neighbourhood income was extracted from the 2011 Hong Kong Population Census data on median household income. Results There was a significant positive association between the quality of amenities and park-based MVPA (metabolic equivalents per observation) in adolescents. However, the associations between the diversity of active facilities, greenness and adolescents’ park-based MVPA were not significant. Neighbourhood income moderated the association between adolescents’ park-based MVPA and park safety, where the relationship between park safety and park-based MVPA was significantly positive in low-income neighbourhoods but not significant in high-income neighbourhoods. An income-by-environment interaction was also observed concerning park aesthetics, with a negative relationship between park aesthetics and park-based MVPA in high-income neighbourhoods but not in low-income neighbourhoods. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence regarding how park environment and neighbourhood income impact adolescents’ park-based MVPA in Hong Kong. These findings can inform urban planning and policymakers who seek to improve urban park development in high-density cities.

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The Role of Preschool Hours in Achieving Physical Activity Recommendations for Preschoolers

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 82

Author(s):

Sara Lahuerta-Contell ◽

Javier Molina-García ◽

Ana Queralt ◽

Vladimir E. Martínez-Bello

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Early Childhood ◽

School Environment ◽

High Density ◽

Childhood Education ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Sociodemographic Correlates ◽

Physical Activity Recommendations ◽

Activity Recommendations

Research on physical activity (PA) in different educational settings could elucidate which interventions promote a healthy school lifestyle in early childhood education (ECE). The aims of this study were: (a) to analyse the PA levels of preschoolers during school hours, as well as the rate of compliance with specific recommendations on total PA (TPA) and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA); (b) to examine the role of structured movement sessions and recess time in the MVPA levels during school hours; (c) to evaluate the sociodemographic correlates of preschoolers and the school environment on MVPA behaviour during school hours. PA was evaluated with Actigraph accelerometers. Our main findings were that: (a) preschoolers engaged in very little TPA and MVPA during school hours; (b) children showed significantly higher MVPA levels on days with versus without structured movement sessions, and the contribution of the structured sessions to MVPA was significantly higher than that of recess time; (c) gender and age were associated with PA, and a high density of young children on the playground was associated with high levels of vigorous PA, whereas in the classroom, high density was associated with more sedentary behaviour. Structured PA could reduce the gap in achieving international recommendations.

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Associations of neighborhood socioeconomic, natural and built environmental characteristics with a 13-year trajectory of non-work physical activity among civil servants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The Pro-Saude Study

Health & Place ◽

10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.07.014 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 110-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eduardo Faerstein ◽

Ismael Henrique da Silveira ◽

Karine de Lima Sírio Boclin ◽

Cintia Chaves Curioni ◽

Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Civil Servants ◽

Environmental Characteristics

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Independent and Joint Associations of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity with Cardiometabolic Health Markers in the 1970 British Birth Cohort

10.1101/19009738 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Bo-Huei Huang ◽

Mark Hamer ◽

Sebastien Chastin ◽

Annemarie Koster ◽

Natalie Pearson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High Density Lipoprotein ◽

High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Glycated Hemoglobin ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

High Density ◽

Breaks In Sedentary Time ◽

Joint Associations

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the independent and joint associations thigh-worn accelerometry assessed sedentary time and moderate to vigorous physical activity with cardiometabolic health markers.DesignCross-sectional study embedded in the age-46 wave an established birth cohort, the 1970 British Birth Cohort.SettingPopulation-based sample from Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales).MethodsOutcome measures included: body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and c-reactive protein. Sedentary behavior and other physical activity exposures, recorded by a thigh-worn activPAL3 accelerometry, included: daily sedentary time, breaks in sedentary time, daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Multiple linear regression analyses, multiple logistic regression analyses, and general linear models were conducted as applicable.Results4,634 participants were available for the final analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, daily sedentary time was positively associated with triglycerides (β=0.052 [0.015, 0.089]) and inversely associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=-0.015 [-0.022, -0.010]). Daily prolonged sedentary time (≥ 60 minutes) was positively associated with both glycated hemoglobin and log-transformed c-reactive protein (β=0.240 [0.030, 0.440] and 0.026 [0.007, 0.045], respectively) and inversely associated with systolic blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=-0.450 [-0.760, -0.150] and -0.013 [-0.022, -0.003], respectively). After adjusting for potential confounders and daily sedentary time, daily breaks in sedentary time were inversely associated with glycated hemoglobin (β=-0.020 [-0.037, -0.003]), and positively associated with both triglycerides and systolic blood pressure (β=0.006 [0.002, 0.010] and 0.030 [0.002, 0.050], respectively). The joint associations of prolonged sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with the prevalence of diabetes were not statistically significant.ConclusionProlonged sedentary time (≥ 60 minutes) and daily breaks in sedentary time were deleteriously associated with glycated hemoglobin, although we found no evidence that there were joint moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sitting associations.

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What Moves Them? Active Transport among Inhabitants of Dutch Deprived Districts

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2013/153973 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Carla Saris ◽

Stef Kremers ◽

Patricia Van Assema ◽

Cees Hoefnagels ◽

Mariël Droomers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Active Transport ◽

Intervention Development ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Physical Activity Behaviour ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Maximum Speed ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Environmental Characteristics ◽

Activity Behaviour

Background. Active modes of transport like walking and cycling have been shown to be valuable contributions to daily physical activity. The current study investigates associations between personal and neighbourhood environmental characteristics and active transport among inhabitants of Dutch deprived districts.Method. Questionnaires about health, neighbourhoods, and physical activity behaviour were completed by 742 adults. Data was analysed by means of multivariate linear regression analyses.Results. Being younger, female, and migrant and having a normal weight were associated with more walking for active transport. Being younger, male, and native Dutch and having a normal weight were associated with more cycling for active transport. Neighbourhood characteristics were generally not correlated with active transport. Stratified analyses, based on significant person-environment interactions, showed that migrants and women walked more when cars did not exceed maximum speed in nearby streets and that younger people walked more when speed of traffic in nearby streets was perceived as low. Among migrants, more cycling was associated with the perceived attractiveness of the neighbourhood surroundings.Discussion and Conclusion. Results indicated that among inhabitants of Dutch deprived districts, personal characteristics were associated with active transport, whereas neighbourhood environmental characteristics were generally not associated with active transport. Nevertheless, interaction effects showed differences among subgroups that should be considered in intervention development.

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Are Self-Efficacy and Perceived Environmental Characteristics Determinants of Decline in Physical Activity Time?

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0274 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Eduarda Cristina da Costa Silva ◽

Arthur Oliveira Barbosa ◽

Juliana Maria da Penha Freire Silva ◽

José Cazuza de Farias Júnior

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Data Collection ◽

Traffic Safety ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Linear Trend ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Activity Time ◽

Environmental Characteristics ◽

Urban Safety

Context: This study analyzed whether self-efficacy (SE) and perceived environmental characteristics (EC) are determinants of the decline in physical activity (PA) time in adolescents. Methods: This used longitudinal observational approach, with 4 years of data collection, involving 355 adolescents (57.7% girls and 42.3% boys), average age of 11.8 years (0.1 y), from João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. SE and EC were measured by scales and PA by a questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to associate SE and EC with a decline in PA. Results: There was a linear trend toward a decrease in average PA duration (58.3 [13.7] min/wk/y) and a rise in average access to places for PA (point per year) (0.6 [0.1]), urban safety (0.2 [0.1]), and traffic safety scores (0.5 [0.1]). The results of multivariable analysis indicated that SE and EC were not associated with the decline in PA. Conclusion: There was a decline in PA time, and SE and perceived EC were not determinants of this decline.

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Association of Physical Activity and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children 3–12 Years

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 800-806

Author(s):

Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽

Jonathan L. Maguire ◽

David W. H. Dai ◽

Patricia C. Parkin ◽

Cornelia M. Borkhoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

High Density Lipoprotein ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

High Density ◽

Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

Height Ratio ◽

Waist To Height Ratio

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) and a total cardio metabolic risk (CMR) score in children aged 3–12 years. Secondary objectives were to examine the association between PA and individual CMR factors. Methods: A longitudinal study with repeated measures was conducted with participants from a large primary care practice-based research network in Toronto, Canada. Mixed effects models were used to examine the relationship between parent-reported physical activity and outcome variables (total CMR score, triglycerides, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, weight-to-height ratio, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Results: Data from 1885 children (6.06 y, 54.4% male) with multiple visits (n = 2670) were included in the analyses. For every unit increase of 60 minutes of PA, there was no evidence of an association with total CMR score (adjusted: −0.02 [−0.014 to 0.004], P = .11]. For the individual CMR components, there was evidence of a weak association between PA and systolic blood pressure (−0.01 [−0.03 to −0.01], P < .001) and waist-to-height ratio (−0.81 [−1.62 to −0.003], P < .001). Conclusion: Parent-reported PA among children aged 3–12 years was not statistically associated with total CMR, but was weakly associated with systolic blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio.

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