Investigating the relationships between the built environment, the climate, walkability and physical activity in the Arabian Peninsula: The case of Bahrain

The research aim was to investigate associations between objectively-assessed built environment attributes and metabolic risk in adolescents of Pacific Islands ethnicity, and to consider the possible mediating effect of physical activity and sedentary time. Youth (n = 204) undertook a suite of physical assessments including body composition, blood sampling, and blood pressure measurements, and seven day accelerometry. Objective measures of the neighbourhood built environment were generated around individual addresses. Logistic regression and linear modelling were used to assess associations between environment measures and metabolic health, accounting for physical activity behaviours. Higher pedestrian connectivity was associated with an increase in the chance of having any International Diabetes Federation metabolic risk factors for males only. Pedestrian connectivity was related to fat free mass in males in unadjusted analyses only. This study provides evidence for the importance of pedestrian network connectivity for health in adolescent males. Future research is required to expand the limited evidence in neighbourhood environments and adolescent metabolic health.

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A Longitudinal Study of Objectively Measured Built Environment as Determinant of Physical Activity in Young Adults: The European Youth Heart Study

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2014-0039 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 909-914 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jasper Schipperijn ◽

Mathias Ried-Larsen ◽

Merete S. Nielsen ◽

Anneli F. Holdt ◽

Anders Grøntved ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Built Environment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Environmental Indices ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

European Youth

Background:This longitudinal study aimed to examine if a Movability Index (MI), based on objectively measured built environment characteristics, was a determinant for objectively measured physical activity (PA) among young adults.Methods:Data collected from 177 persons participating in the Danish part of the European Youth Hearth Study (EYHS) was used to examine the effect of the built environment on PA. A MI was developed using objectively measured built environment characteristics, and included residential density, recreational facilities, daily destinations and street connectivity.Results:Results showed a positive cross-sectional association between MI and PA. PA decreased from baseline to follow-up. MI increased, primarily due to participants relocating to larger cities. An increase in MI from baseline to follow-up was associated with a reduced decrease in PA for females.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that the built environment is a determinant for PA, especially for females. The found gender differences might suggest the need to develop gender specific environmental indices in future studies. The validity of the measures can be further improved by creating domain specific PA measures as well as domain specific environmental indices and this can potentially reveal more specific built environment determinants for PA.

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Associations of the Neighborhood Built Environment With Physical Activity Across Pregnancy

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0510 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Kiarri N. Kershaw ◽

Derek J. Marsh ◽

Emma G. Crenshaw ◽

Rebecca B. McNeil ◽

Victoria L. Pemberton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Built Environment ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Relative Risks ◽

Recreation Areas ◽

General Populations ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment

Background: Several features of the neighborhood built environment have been shown to promote leisure-time physical activity (PA) in the general population, but few studies have examined its impact on PA during pregnancy. Methods: Data were extracted from 8362 Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be cohort participants (2010–2013). Residential address information was linked to 3 built environment characteristics: number of gyms and recreation areas within a 3-km radius of residence and census block level walkability. Self-reported leisure-time PA was measured in each trimester and dichotomized as meeting PA guidelines or not. Relative risks for cross-sectional associations between neighborhood characteristics and meeting PA guidelines were estimated using Poisson regression. Results: More gyms and recreation areas were each associated with a greater chance of meeting PA guidelines in models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and preexisting conditions. Associations were strongest in the third trimester where each doubling in counts of gyms and recreation areas was associated with 10% (95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.13) and 8% (95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.12), respectively, greater likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. Associations were similar though weaker for walkability. Conclusions: Results from a large, multisite cohort suggest that these built environment characteristics have similar PA-promoting benefits in pregnant women as seen in more general populations.

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Built environment, non-motorized travel and overall physical activity

Travel Behaviour and Society ◽

10.1016/j.tbs.2018.08.004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

pp. 201-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Harpa Stefansdottir ◽

Petter Næss ◽

Camilla Martha Ihlebæk

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Built Environment

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Validation of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) Items Using Geographic Information Systems

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.6.s1.s113 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (s1) ◽

pp. S113-S123 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Marc A. Adams ◽

Sherry Ryan ◽

Jacqueline Kerr ◽

James F. Sallis ◽

Kevin Patrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Information Systems ◽

Geographic Information Systems ◽

Built Environment ◽

Traffic Congestion ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Activity Level ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Objective Measures

Background:Concurrent validity of Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) items was evaluated with objective measures of the built environment using geographic information systems (GIS).Methods:A sample of 878 parents of children 10 to 16 years old (mean age 43.5 years, SD = 6.8, 34.8% non-White, 63.8% overweight) completed NEWS and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. GIS was used to develop 1-mile street network buffers around participants’ residences. GIS measures of the built environment within participants’ buffers included percent of commercial and institutional land uses; number of schools and colleges, recreational facilities, parks, transit stops, and trees; land topography; and traffic congestion.Results:Except for trees and traffic, concordance between the NEWS and GIS measures were significant, with weak to moderate effect sizes (r = −0.09 to −0.36, all P ≤ 01). After participants were stratified by physical activity level, stronger concordance was observed among active participants for some measures. A sensitivity analysis of self-reported distance to 15 neighborhood destinations found a 20-minute (compared with 10- or 30-minute) walking threshold generally had the strongest correlations with GIS measures.Conclusions:These findings provide evidence of the concurrent validity of self-reported built environment items with objective measures. Physically active adults may be more knowledgeable about their neighborhood characteristics.

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Architectural Design and Physical Activity: An Observational Study of Staircase and Elevator Use in Different Buildings

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.10.4.556 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 556-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

David R. Bassett ◽

Ray Browning ◽

Scott A. Conger ◽

Dana L. Wolff ◽

Jennifer I. Flynn

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Built Environment ◽

Observational Study ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Commercial Buildings ◽

The Other ◽

University Campus ◽

Direct Observations ◽

The Way

Background:The indoor built environment has the potential to influence levels of physical activity. However, the extent to which architectural design in commercial buildings can influence the percentage of people choosing to use the stairs versus elevators is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if buildings with centrally located, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing staircases result in a greater percentage of people taking the stairs.Methods:Direct observations of stair and elevator use were conducted in 3 buildings on a university campus. One of the buildings had a bank of 4 centrally located elevators and a fire escape stairwell behind a steel door. The other 2 buildings had centrally located staircases and out-of-the-way elevators.Results:The percentage of people who ascended the stairs was 8.1% in the elevator-centric building, compared with 72.8% and 81.1% in the 2 stair-centric buildings (P < .001). In addition, the percentage of people who descended the stairs was 10.8% in the first building, compared with 89.5% and 93.7% in the stair-centric buildings (P < .001).Conclusions:The results of the current study suggest that if buildings are constructed with centrally located, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing staircases, a greater percentage of people will choose to take the stairs.

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