Do Not Forget About Public Transportation: Analysis of the Association of Active Transportation to School Among Washington, DC Area Children With Parental Perceived Built Environment Measures

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 474-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer D. Roberts ◽  
Lindsey Rodkey ◽  
Rashawn Ray ◽  
Brian E. Saelens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Parental Perceptions ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment ◽  
Average School

Background: Although the active transportation (AT) indicator received an F grade on the 2016 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, this AT assessment excluded public transportation. An objective of the Built Environment and Active Play Study was to assess youth AT, including public transportation, among Washington, DC area children in relation to parental perceptions of neighborhood built environment (BE) variables. Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to 2000 parents of children aged 7–12 years. AT to school (ATS) was assessed with the question: “In an average school week, how many days does your child use each of the following ways to get to and from school? (a) Walk; (b) Bike; (c) Car; (d) Bus or Metro.” Parental perceived BE data were obtained through questionnaire items, and logistic regression was conducted to determine if BE variables were associated with youth ATS. Results: The sample included 144 children (50% female; average age 9.7 years; 56.3% white; 23.7% African American; 10.4% Asian American). Over 30% used ATS-public transportation 5 days per week, and nearly 13% used ATS-walking daily. Parental perceived BE variables significantly predicted youth ATS-walking and ATS-public transportation. Conclusions: ATS-public transportation is common among Washington, DC area youth, and parental perceptions of BE can significantly predict ATS.

scholarly journals Global Matrix 2.0: Report Card Grades on the Physical Activity of Children and Youth Comparing 38 Countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s2) ◽  
pp. S343-S366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Tremblay ◽  
Joel D. Barnes ◽  
Silvia A. González ◽  
Peter T. Katzmarzyk ◽  
Vincent O. Onywera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Report Cards ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Global Alliance ◽  
Active Play

The Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance organized the concurrent preparation of Report Cards on the physical activity of children and youth in 38 countries from 6 continents (representing 60% of the world’s population). Nine common indicators were used (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport Participation, Active Play, Active Transportation, Sedentary Behavior, Family and Peers, School, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments), and all Report Cards were generated through a harmonized development process and a standardized grading framework (from A = excellent, to F = failing). The 38 Report Cards were presented at the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health in Bangkok, Thailand on November 16, 2016. The consolidated findings are summarized in the form of a Global Matrix demonstrating substantial variation in grades both within and across countries. Countries that lead in certain indicators often lag in others. Average grades for both Overall Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior around the world are D (low/poor). In contrast, the average grade for indicators related to supports for physical activity was C. Lower-income countries generally had better grades on Overall Physical Activity, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behaviors compared with higher-income countries, yet worse grades for supports from Family and Peers, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments. Average grades for all indicators combined were highest (best) in Denmark, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. Many surveillance and research gaps were apparent, especially for the Active Play and Family and Peers indicators. International cooperation and cross-fertilization is encouraged to address existing challenges, understand underlying determinants, conceive innovative solutions, and mitigate the global childhood inactivity crisis. The paradox of higher physical activity and lower sedentary behavior in countries reporting poorer infrastructure, and lower physical activity and higher sedentary behavior in countries reporting better infrastructure, suggests that autonomy to play, travel, or chore requirements and/or fewer attractive sedentary pursuits, rather than infrastructure and structured activities, may facilitate higher levels of physical activity.

scholarly journals Results From the United States of America’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s2) ◽  
pp. S307-S313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter T. Katzmarzyk ◽  
Kara D. Denstel ◽  
Kim Beals ◽  
Christopher Bolling ◽  
Carly Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
United States ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Report Card ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Health Related Fitness

Background:The 2016 United States (U.S.) Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth provides a comprehensive evaluation of physical activity levels and factors influencing physical activity among children and youth.Methods:The report card includes 10 indicators: Overall Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Active Transportation, Organized Sport Participation, Active Play, Health-related Fitness, Family and Peers, School, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments. Nationally representative data were used to evaluate the indicators using a standard grading rubric.Results:Sufficient data were available to assign grades to 7 of the indicators, and these ranged from B- for Community and the Built Environment to F for Active Transportation. Overall Physical Activity received a grade of D- due to the low prevalence of meeting physical activity guidelines. A grade of D was assigned to Health-related Fitness, reflecting the low prevalence of meeting cardiorespiratory fitness standards. Disparities across age, gender, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups were observed for several indicators.Conclusions:Continued poor grades suggest that additional work is required to provide opportunities for U.S. children to be physically active. The observed disparities indicate that special attention should be given to girls, minorities, and those from lower socioeconomic groups when implementing intervention strategies.

Associations of the Neighborhood Built Environment With Physical Activity Across Pregnancy

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.

scholarly journals The built environment and active transportation safety in children and youth: a study protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent E. Hagel ◽  
Alison Macpherson ◽  
Andrew Howard ◽  
Pamela Fuselli ◽  
Marie-Soleil Cloutier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Transportation Safety

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerson Ferrari ◽  
◽  
André Oliveira Werneck ◽  
Danilo Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Irina Kovalskys ◽  
...  
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.

scholarly journals Everyday Walking Among Older Adults and the Neighborhood Built Environment: A Comparison Between Two Cities in North America

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Herbolsheimer ◽  
Atiya Mahmood ◽  
Yvonne L. Michael ◽  
Habib Chaudhury
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Metro Vancouver ◽  
Walkable Neighborhood ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment

A walkable neighborhood becomes particularly important for older adults for whom physical activity and active transportation are critical for healthy aging-in-place. For many older adults, regular walking takes place in the neighborhood and is the primary mode of mobility. This study took place in eight neighborhoods in Metro Portland (USA) and Metro Vancouver (Canada), examining older adults' walking behavior and neighborhood built environmental features. Older adults reported walking for recreation and transport in a cross-sectional telephone survey. Information on physical activity was combined with audits of 355 street segments using the Senior Walking Environmental Audit Tool-Revised (SWEAT-R). Multi-level regression models examined the relationship between built environmental characteristics and walking for transport or recreation. Older adults [N = 434, mean age: 71.6 (SD = 8.1)] walked more for transport in high-density neighborhoods and in Metro Vancouver compared to Metro Portland (M = 12.8 vs. M = 2.2 min/day; p < 0.001). No relationship was found between population density and walking for recreation. Older adults spent more time walking for transport if pedestrian crossing were present (p = 0.037) and if parks or outdoor fitness amenities were available (p = 0.022). The immediate neighborhood built environment supports walking for transport in older adults. Comparing two similar metropolitan areas highlighted that high population density is necessary, yet not a sufficient condition for walking in the neighborhood.

scholarly journals Trends and measurement issues for active transportation in New Zealand's physical activity report cards for children and youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 100789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melody Smith ◽  
Erika Ikeda ◽  
Scott Duncan ◽  
Ralph Maddison ◽  
Erica Hinckson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Report Cards ◽  
Measurement Issues ◽  
Activity Report
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