The Built Environment, Physical Activity, and Aging in the United States: A State of the Science Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Haselwandter ◽  
Michael P. Corcoran ◽  
Sara C. Folta ◽  
Raymond Hyatt ◽  
Mark Fenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Science Review ◽  
State Of The Science

The Built Environment, Physical Activity, and Aging in the United States: A State of the Science Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Haselwandter ◽  
Michael P. Corcoran ◽  
Sara C. Folta ◽  
Raymond Hyatt ◽  
Mark Fenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Science Review ◽  
State Of The Science

scholarly journals Walking toward Metro Stations: the Contribution of Distance, Attitudes, and Perceived Built Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10291
Author(s):  
Mohammad Paydar ◽  
Asal Kamani Fard ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Khaghani
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Walking as an active means of travel is important as a sustainable mode of transport. Moreover, the level of walking in the surrounding areas of metro stations would contribute to maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity and, therefore, inhabitants’ general health. This study examined the impacts of walking attitude, walking distance, and perceived built environment on walking behavior for reaching the metro stations in Shiraz, Iran. Three metro stations were selected and a quantitative approach was used to examine the objectives. It was found that the average walking distance is less than the average in developed countries, such as the United States. People walked more when there was a shorter distance between their starting points and the metro stations. The contribution of walking attitudes and several built environment attributes to walking behavior was demonstrated. Finding the contribution of aesthetic attributes, such as accessibility to parks and housing types of the starting points of the walking trips, to walking for transport are taken into account as the novelties of this study. Policy makers of this city may apply the findings of this study—especially around the metro stations—to improve the average walking distance as well as walking behavior.

scholarly journals Built Environment Approaches to Increase Physical Activity: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Omura ◽  
Susan A. Carlson ◽  
David R. Brown ◽  
David P. Hopkins ◽  
William E. Kraus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Preventive Services ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transportation Systems

Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to improve their cardiovascular health; however, population levels of physical activity remain low in the United States. Effective population-based approaches implemented in communities can help increase physical activity among all Americans. Evidence suggests that built environment interventions offer one such approach. These interventions aim to create or modify community environmental characteristics to make physical activity easier or more accessible for all people in the places where they live. In 2016, the Community Preventive Services Task Force released a recommendation for built environment approaches to increase physical activity. This recommendation is based on a systematic review of 90 studies (search period, 1980–June 2014) conducted using methods outlined by the Guide to Community Preventive Services. The Community Preventive Services Task Force found sufficient evidence of effectiveness to recommend combined built environment strategies. Specifically, these strategies combine interventions to improve pedestrian or bicycle transportation systems with interventions to improve land use and environmental design. Components of transportation systems can include street pattern design and connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, and public transit infrastructure and access. Components of land use and environmental design can include mixed land use, increased residential density, proximity to community or neighborhood destinations, and parks and recreational facility access. Implementing this Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation in communities across the United States can help promote healthy and active living, increase physical activity, and ultimately improve cardiovascular health.

scholarly journals Built environment in programs to promote physical activity among Latino children and youth living in the United States and in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga L. Sarmiento ◽  
María Alejandra Rubio ◽  
Abby C. King ◽  
Natalicio Serrano ◽  
Adriano Akira F. Hino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Latino Children

scholarly journals Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Lanza ◽  
Melody Alcazar ◽  
Deanna M. Hoelscher ◽  
Harold W. Kohl
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Nature Trails

Abstract Background Latinx children in the United States are at high risk for nature-deficit disorder, heat-related illness, and physical inactivity. We developed the Green Schoolyards Project to investigate how green features—trees, gardens, and nature trails—in school parks impact heat index (i.e., air temperature and relative humidity) within parks, and physical activity levels and socioemotional well-being of these children. Herein, we present novel methods for a) observing children’s interaction with green features and b) measuring heat index and children’s behaviors in a natural setting, and a selection of baseline results. Methods During two September weeks (high temperature) and one November week (moderate temperature) in 2019, we examined three joint-use elementary school parks in Central Texas, United States, serving predominantly low-income Latinx families. To develop thermal profiles for each park, we installed 10 air temperature/relative humidity sensors per park, selecting sites based on land cover, land use, and even spatial coverage. We measured green features within a geographic information system. In a cross-sectional study, we used an adapted version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess children’s physical activity levels and interactions with green features. In a cohort study, we equipped 30 3rd and 30 4th grade students per school during recess with accelerometers and Global Positioning System devices, and surveyed these students regarding their connection to nature. Baseline analyses included inverse distance weighting for thermal profiles and summing observed counts of children interacting with trees. Results In September 2019, average daily heat index ranged 2.0 °F among park sites, and maximum daily heat index ranged from 103.4 °F (air temperature = 33.8 °C; relative humidity = 55.2%) under tree canopy to 114.1 °F (air temperature = 37.9 °C; relative humidity = 45.2%) on an unshaded playground. 10.8% more girls and 25.4% more boys interacted with trees in September than in November. Conclusions We found extreme heat conditions at select sites within parks, and children positioning themselves under trees during periods of high heat index. These methods can be used by public health researchers and practitioners to inform the redesign of greenspaces in the face of climate change and health inequities.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Among Somali Men in Minnesota

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Mohamed ◽  
Abdullahi M. Hassan ◽  
Jennifer A. Weis ◽  
Irene G. Sia ◽  
Mark L. Wieland
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
African Refugee ◽  
Competing Priorities ◽  
Exercise Equipment

Immigrants and refugees arrive to the United States healthier than the general population, but this advantage declines with increasing duration of residence. One factor contributing to this decline is suboptimal physical activity, but reasons for this are poorly understood. Persons from Somalia represent the largest African refugee population to the United States, yet little is known about perceptions of physical activity among Somali men. Somali members of a community-based participatory research partnership implemented three age-stratified focus groups and three semistructured interviews among 20 Somali men in Rochester, Minnesota. Team-based inductive analysis generated themes for barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Barriers to physical activity included less walking opportunities in the United States, embarrassment about exercise clothing and lack of familiarity with exercise equipment/modalities, fear of harassment, competing priorities, facility costs, transportation, and winter weather. Facilitators to physical activity included high knowledge about how to be active, success stories from others in their community as inspiration, and community cohesion. Findings may be used to derive interventions aimed to promote physical activity among Somali men in the United States.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document