The Built Environment and BMI: How LEED and Land Use Mix Relate to Public Health

Abstract Background Characteristics of the neighborhood built environment are associated with physical activity (PA). However, few studies with representative samples have examined environmental correlates of domain-specific PA in Latin America. We examined the associations of the perceived neighborhood built environment with domain-specific PA in a large sample of adults from eight Latin American countries. Methods This study examined data from 8185 adults (aged 18–65 years) from eight Latin American countries. The Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey - Abbreviated (NEWS-A) scale was used to assess perceptions of land use mix–diversity, land use mix-access, street connectivity, walking/cycling facilities, aesthetics, safety from traffic, and safety from crime. Perceived proximity from home to public open spaces (metropolitan parks, playgrounds, public squares) and to shopping centers was also measured. Transport-related and leisure-time PA were assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Both logistic and linear regression models were estimated on pooled data. Results Perceptions of higher land use mix-access (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.22,1.61), the existence of many alternative routes in the neighbourhood (1.12; 1.04,1.20), slow speed of traffic (1.19; 1.03,1.35) and few drivers exceeding the speed limits (1.09; 1.03,1.15) were associated with greater odds of reporting at least 10 min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher levels of land use mix-diversity, better aesthetics and greater safety from crime, the presence of crosswalks and pedestrian signals, and greater proximity of shopping centers were associated with more min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity (1.12; 1.05,1.20), higher land use mix-access (1.27; 1.13,1.43), more walking/cycling facilities (1.18; 1.09,1.28), and better aesthetics (1.10; 1.02,1.18) were associated with greater odds of engaging in at least 10 min/week of leisure-time PA versus none. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity were associated with more min/week of leisure PA. Conclusions Different perceived neighborhood built environment characteristics were associated with domain-specific PA among adults from Latin America countries. Interventions designed to modify perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment might influence initiation or maintenance of domain-specific PA. Trial registration ClinicalTrials. Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.

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The Neighborhood Built Environment and Cognitive Function of Older Persons: Results from the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000480080 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 149-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Tze Pin Ng ◽

Ma Shwe Zin Nyunt ◽

Faysal Kabir Shuvo ◽

Jia Yen Eng ◽

Keng Bee Yap ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Built Environment ◽

Older Persons ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Easy Access ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Ageing Study ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment

Background: We investigated the association of subjective (perceived) and objective (geographical information system [GIS]-based) measures of the neighborhood built environment (BE) attributes with cognitive function among older persons, and the mediating effect of transportation physical activity (TPA) and leisure time (physical, social and productive) activities (LTA). Method: A cross-sectional study of 402 residents aged 55 years and above in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study. Perceived neighborhood BE attributes (residential density, street connectivity, land use mix - diversity, land use mix - access, infrastructure for walking or cycling, aesthetics, traffic safety, and crime safety) and objective GIS measures of walkability and accessibility were related to participants' cognitive global and domain-specific performance measured by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neurocognitive Status (RBANS). Results: Controlling for age, sex, education, race, chronic medical illnesses, self-rated health, Geriatric Depression Scale depression score, POMA measures of balance and gait, and other BE attributes, the subjective measure of land use mix-diversity (standardized coefficient β = 0.161, p = 0.008) and GIS measure of walkability (β = 0.163, p = 0.002) were positively and significantly associated with RBANS global z-score, and immediate and delayed memory recall, visuospatial/ constructional ability and language, except attention. In hierarchical modeling, TPA and LTA attenuated the effect estimates, but the associations remained significant. Conclusion: BE features which increase opportunities and easy access to a diversity of destinations for services and facilities that promote physical, social and cognitively stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive functioning in older people.

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Association between Perceived Built Environment and Prevalent Hypertension among South African Adults

Advances in Epidemiology ◽

10.1155/2016/1038715 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pasmore Malambo ◽

Andre P. Kengne ◽

Estelle V. Lambert ◽

Anniza De Villers ◽

Thandi Puoane

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

South African ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Logistic Regressions

Introduction. The association between perceived built environmental attributes and hypertension among adults has received little attention in an African context. We investigated the association between the perceived built environment and prevalent hypertension in adult South Africans. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 2008-2009 Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology data among South African (n=671) adults aged ≥35 years. Perceived built environment was assessed using the neighborhood environment walkability scale questionnaire. Prevalent hypertension was defined as previously diagnosed by a physician, screen-detected hypertension as ≥140/90 mmHg, and a combination of both as any hypertension. Logistic regressions were applied for analyses. Results. In crude logistic regressions, self-reported hypertension was associated with land use mix-diversity, street connectivity, infrastructure for walking/cycling, aesthetics, traffic, and crime. In adjusted model, land use mix-diversity was significantly associated with self-reported hypertension. In similar multivariable models, the direction and magnitude of the effects were mostly similar to the outcomes of “screen-detected hypertension” which was further predicted by perceived lack of safety from traffic. Conclusion. Perceived built environment attributes were significantly associated with hypertension. This has relevance to population-based approaches to hypertension prevention and control.

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Public Health and the Built Environment: Historical, Empirical, and Theoretical Foundations for an Expanded Role

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00123.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 557-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Wendy C. Perdue ◽

Lawrence O. Gostin ◽

Lesley A. Stone

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Disease Control ◽

Building Industry ◽

State Health ◽

Industry Association ◽

Physical Diseases ◽

The Relationship ◽

Theoretical Foundations

In 2000, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health issued a report that explored some of the ways in which “sprawl” impacts public health. The report has generated great interest, and state health officials are beginning to discuss the relationship between land use and public health. The CDC report has also produced a backlash. For example, the Southern California Building Industry Association labeled the report “a ludicrous sham” and argued that the CDC should stick to “fighting physical diseases, not defending political ones.”In retrospect, it is probably unfortunate that this report was funded by an organization called “Sprawl Watch.” “Spraw” is a word that has no clear meaning but is applied to a huge range of issues involving suburban development.

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The influence of street-scale built environment on transportation mode choice of travelers around metro stations

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202128302027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 283 ◽

pp. 02027

Author(s):

Yanan Liu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Mode Choice ◽

Multinomial Logit Model ◽

Traffic Light ◽

Transportation Mode ◽

Metro Station ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Road Width ◽

Transportation Mode Choice

To understand the determinants of transportation mode choice of travelers around metro stations, more and more built environment attributes have been studied and shown significant results. This study focuses on the impacts of street-scale built environment on the travelers around the metro stations. 754 trips stemming from 309 respondents were collected around Yingkoudao metro station in Tianjin, China. A multinomial logit model was estimated to predict transportation mode choice to/from the study area as a function of socio-demographic information, trip characteristics, and street-scale built environment attributes (including land use mix, road width, the shortest distance to the station, sidewalk width, number of lamps, greenery area, and traffic light presence) along the shortest route between the Yingkoudao metro station and the origin/destination around the station for the choice of metro+walk. The results show that not only the socio-demographic characteristics, but also the distance to the station, land use mix, and number of lamps significantly influence the choice of metro+walk.

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Research on the Difference Between Recreational Walking and Transport Walking Among the Elderly in Mega Cities With Different Density Zones: The Case of Guangzhou City

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.775103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Peng Zang ◽

Hualong Qiu ◽

Fei Xian ◽

Xiang Zhou ◽

Shifa Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Older People ◽

Street Connectivity ◽

Guangzhou City ◽

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Recreational Walking ◽

Intersection Density

Walking is the easiest method of physical activity for older people, and current research has demonstrated that the built environment is differently associated with recreational and transport walking. This study modelled the environmental characteristics of three different building density zones in Guangzhou city at low, medium, and high densities, and examined the differences in walking among older people in the three zones. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to investigate the recreational and transport walking time of older people aged 65 years and above for the past week, for a total of three density zones (N = 597) and was analysed as a dependent variable. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to identify 300, 500, 800, and 1,000 m buffers and to assess differences between recreational and transport walking in terms of the built environment [e.g., land-use mix, street connectivity, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data]. The data were processed and validated using the SPSS software to calculate Pearson's correlation models and stepwise regression models between recreation and transit walking and the built environment. The results found that land use mix and NDVI were positively correlated with transport walking in low-density areas and that transport walking was negatively correlated with roadway mediated centrality (BtE) and Point-of-Interest (PoI) density. Moreover, recreational walking in medium density areas was negatively correlated with self-rated health, road intersection density, and PoI density while positively correlated with educational attainment, population density, land use mix, street connectivity, PoIs density, and NDVI. Transport walking was negatively correlated with land-use mix, number of road crossings while positively correlated with commercial PoI density. Street connectivity, road intersection density, DNVI, and recreational walking in high-density areas showed negative correlations. Moreover, the built environment of older people in Guangzhou differed between recreational and transport walking at different densities. The richness of PoIs has different effects on different types of walking.

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Understanding walkable areas: applicability and analysis of a walkability index in a Brazilian city

Ambiente Construído ◽

10.1590/s1678-86212018000400313 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 413-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Monica Cristina Nishikawa Motomura ◽

Larissa Casaril da Fontoura ◽

Milena Kanashiro

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Housing Projects ◽

Floor Area Ratio ◽

Walkability Index ◽

Environment Variables ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Intersection Density

Abstract Considering the growing of chronic non-communicable diseases worldwide, many studies have pointed out the role of the built environment as a support for walking. These studies are being applied in metropolitan and county regions or in specific areas of larger citiesof developed countries. Nevertheless, there is noevidences of the application of the walkability index in an entire Brazilian city. The main objective of this study is to understand walkable areas in a Brazilian medium sized city such as Cambé - PR, based on the walkability variables defined by Frank et al. (2010). The index systematizes four built environment variables: net residential density, retail floor area ratio, intersection density and land use mix. The results show that higher walkability areas are located in downtown and in three areas in the outskirts of Cambé, which were formerly designed to attend social housing projects. The transformations of land use mix and the urban layout characteristics of these areas improved the walkability level. This paper contributes to enlighten the characteristics of walkable areas and highlights a different outcome when considering a city of a developing country such as Brazil.

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Is the Perceived Neighborhood Built Environment Associated With Domain-Specific Physical Activity in Latin American Adults? An Eight-Country Observational Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-58015/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gerson Ferrari ◽

André O. Werneck ◽

Danilo Rodrigues Silva ◽

Irina Kovalskys ◽

Georgina Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Latin American ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Shopping Centers ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment ◽

Latin American Countries

Abstract Background: Characteristics of the neighborhood built environment are associated with physical activity (PA). However, few studies with representative samples have examined environmental correlates of domain-specific PA in Latin America. We examined the associations of the perceived neighborhood built environment with domain-specific PA in a large sample of adults from eight Latin American countries. Methods: This study examined data from 8185 adults (aged 18–65 years) from eight Latin American countries. The Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey - Abbreviated (NEWS-A) scale was used to assess perceptions of land use mix–diversity, land use mix-access, street connectivity, walking/cycling facilities, aesthetics, safety from traffic, and safety from crime. Perceived proximity from home to public open spaces (metropolitan parks, playgrounds, public squares) and to shopping centers was also assessed. Transport-related and leisure-time PA were assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Both logistic and linear regression models were estimated on pooled data. Results: Perceptions of higher land use mix-access (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.22,1.61), the existence of many alternative routes in the neighbourhood (1.12; 1.04,1.20), slow speed of traffic (1.19; 1.03,1.35) and few drivers exceeding the speed limits (1.09; 1.03,1.15) were associated with greater odds of reporting at least 10 min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher levels of land use mix-diversity, better aesthetics and greater safety from crime, the presence of crosswalks and pedestrian signals, and greater proximity of shopping centers were associated with more min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity (1.12; 1.05,1.20), higher land use mix-access (1.27; 1.13,1.43), more walking/cycling facilities (1.18; 1.09,1.28), and better aesthetics (1.10; 1.02,1.18) were associated with greater odds of engaging in at least 10 min/week of leisure-time PA versus none. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity were associated with more min/week of leisure PA. Conclusions: Different perceived neighborhood built environment characteristics were associated with domain-specific PA among adults from Latin America countries. Interventions designed to modify perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment might influence initiation or maintenance of domain-specific PA.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.

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Is the perceived neighborhood built environment associated with domain-specific physical activity in Latin American adults? An eight-country observational study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-58015/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gerson Ferrari ◽

André O. Werneck ◽

Danilo Rodrigues Silva ◽

Irina Kovalskys ◽

Georgina Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Latin American ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Shopping Centers ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment ◽

Latin American Countries

Abstract Background: Characteristics of the neighborhood built environment are associated with physical activity (PA). However, few studies with representative samples have examined environmental correlates of domain-specific PA in Latin America. We examined the associations of the perceived neighborhood built environment with domain-specific PA in a large sample of adults from eight Latin American countries.Methods: This study examined data from 8185 adults (aged 18–65 years) from eight Latin American countries. The Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey - Abbreviated (NEWS-A) scale was used to assess perceptions of land use mix–diversity, land use mix-access, street connectivity, walking/cycling facilities, aesthetics, safety from traffic, and safety from crime. Perceived proximity from home to public open spaces (metropolitan parks, playgrounds, public squares) and to shopping centers was also measured. Transport-related and leisure-time PA were assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Both logistic and linear regression models were estimated on pooled data.Results: Perceptions of higher land use mix-access (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.22,1.61), the existence of many alternative routes in the neighbourhood (1.12; 1.04,1.20), slow speed of traffic (1.19; 1.03,1.35) and few drivers exceeding the speed limits (1.09; 1.03,1.15) were associated with greater odds of reporting at least 10 min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher levels of land use mix-diversity, better aesthetics and greater safety from crime, the presence of crosswalks and pedestrian signals, and greater proximity of shopping centers were associated with more min/week of transport-related PA. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity (1.12; 1.05,1.20), higher land use mix-access (1.27; 1.13,1.43), more walking/cycling facilities (1.18; 1.09,1.28), and better aesthetics (1.10; 1.02,1.18) were associated with greater odds of engaging in at least 10 min/week of leisure-time PA versus none. Perceptions of higher land use mix-diversity were associated with more min/week of leisure PA.Conclusions: Different perceived neighborhood built environment characteristics were associated with domain-specific PA among adults from Latin America countries. Interventions designed to modify perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment might influence initiation or maintenance of domain-specific PA.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.

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Do Neighborhoods with Highly Diverse Built Environment Exhibit Different Socio-Economic Profiles as Well? Evidence from Shanghai

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13147544 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 7544

Author(s):

George Grekousis ◽

Zhoulin Pan ◽

Ye Liu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Built Environments ◽

Environment Variables ◽

The Social ◽

Land Use Mix ◽

High Level ◽

Social Landscapes ◽

Neighborhood Level

The link between the built environment and residential segregation has long been of interest to the discussion for sustainable and socially resilient cities. However, direct assessments on how extensively diverse built environments affect the social landscapes of cities at the neighborhood level are rare. Here, we investigate whether neighborhoods with a diverse built environment also exhibit different socio-economic profiles. Through a geodemographic approach, we scrutinize the socio-economic composition of Shanghai’s neighborhoods. We statistically compare the top 10% (very high values) to the bottom 10% (very low values) of the following built environment variables: density, land use mix, land use balance, and greenness. We show that high-density areas have three times the percentage of divorced residents than low-density areas. Neighborhoods with a high level of greenness have median values of 30% more residents aged between 25–44 years old and five times the percentage of houses between 60 to 119 m2 than low-greenness areas. In high land-use mix areas, the share of people that live on a pension is 30% more than the low land-use mix areas. The findings of this study can be used to improve the designs of modern, sustainable cities at the neighborhood level, significantly improving quality of life.

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