scholarly journals Association between leisure-time physical activity and the built environment in China: Empirical evidence from an accelerometer and GPS-based fitness app

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260570
Author(s):  
Long Chen ◽  
Zhaoxi Zhang ◽  
Ying Long

To reexamine the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and the built environment (BE), this paper takes advantage of the massive amount of data collected by an accelerometer and GPS-based fitness mobile app. Massive LTPA data from more than 3 million users were recorded by Codoon in 500m by 500m grid cells and aggregated to 742 natural cities in mainland China. Six BE indicators were quantified using GIS at the city scale. Robust regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation between LTPA and BE. Five of six BE indicators—connectivity, road density, land use mix, points of interest density, and density of parks and squares—were significantly, positively, independently, and linearly related to LTPA in the regression analysis. The study obtains findings that are consistent with the previous literature but also provides novel insights into the important role of POI density in encouraging LTPA, as well as how the relationship between LTPA and BE varies by time of day. The study also sheds light on the embrace of new technology and new data in public health and urban studies.

Author(s):  
Jiabin Yu ◽  
Chen Yang ◽  
Shen Zhang ◽  
Diankai Zhai ◽  
Aiwen Wang ◽  
...  

Physical activity has been suggested to be beneficial in preventing disease and improving body function in older people. Older people’s leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is affected by various factors, especially environmental factors. However, the differences in the association between older people’s LTPA and the built environment in different sex groups remain unclear. Perceived built environment scores and older people’s LTPA were collected for 240 older people in Jinhua using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. A linear regression method was used to analyze the associations between older people’s LTPA and the built environment in men, women, and all participants. The results showed that land use mix diversity was associated with LTPA in older people for both sexes. In men, LTPA was also associated with access to services. However, in women, LTPA was associated with residential density, street connectivity, and crime safety. The relationship varied when demographic variables were incorporated into the regression analysis. Those results indicated that a shorter perceived distance from home to destination would motivate older people to engage more in LTPA. Older people’s LTPA was affected by various built environment factors according to different sex groups. Women’s LTPA was generally more sensitive to the built environment. More studies are needed to confirm the association between LTPA in older people and the built environment in men and women in mid- or small-sized Chinese cities in the future.


Author(s):  
Kiarri N. Kershaw ◽  
Derek J. Marsh ◽  
Emma G. Crenshaw ◽  
Rebecca B. McNeil ◽  
Victoria L. Pemberton ◽  
...  

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.


1996 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 315-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Aldana ◽  
Leanne D. Sutton ◽  
Bert H. Jacobson ◽  
Michael G. Quirk

This study investigated the relationship between physical activity during leisure time and perceived stress among working adults ( N = 32,229). Data were gathered on physical activity, perceived stress, current health status, age, gender, life changes, ongoing problems, number of techniques used for stress reduction, and number of personality traits related to Type A behavior. To control for confounding variables Mantel-Haenszel summary risk estimates were used. Employees who expended more than 3.0 Kcal/kg−1 · day−1 in physical activity during leisure time were 0.78 and 0.62 times less likely to have moderate and high perceived stress, respectively. Working adults participating in moderate amounts of these activities have about half the rate of perceived stress as nonparticipants.


2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1084-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulius Sukys ◽  
Vida J. Cesnaitiene ◽  
Arunas Emeljanovas ◽  
Brigita Mieziene ◽  
Irena Valantine ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health education and motives and barriers for university students’ engagement in leisure-time physical activity (PA). The research sample included 709 students (312 females and 397 males) in different years of study, ranging in age between 18-25 years. A questionnaire survey method revealed a significant positive relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. External barriers were negative predictors of students’ leisure-time PA, while more health education-related courses per week were positively associated with students’ leisure-time PA. Finally, we found that the number of health education-related courses per week moderated the relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. These findings suggest that university students’ fitness and health motives and external barriers to be physically active outweigh other motives and barriers in determining their leisure-time PA. In addition, health education in university studies can effectively increase students’ health-related motivation for PA.


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