scholarly journals Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Gavin R. McCormack ◽  
Levi Frehlich ◽  
Anita Blackstaffe ◽  
Tanvir C. Turin ◽  
Patricia K. Doyle-Baker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Walk Score ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment ◽  
Health Related Fitness ◽  
Fitness Levels

There are many health benefits of regular physical activity and improving physical fitness levels can reduce the risk of chronic disease. Accumulating evidence suggests the neighborhood built environment is important for supporting physical activity; however, few studies have investigated the contribution of the neighborhood built environment to fitness levels. We examined the associations between objectively-determined and self-reported neighborhood walkability and overall and specific components of perceived health-related fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular strength, and flexibility) in a random sample of 592 adults from two areas of Calgary (Canada). Participants provided complete data to an online questionnaire capturing perceived cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength (MST), flexibility, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), resistance training, and sociodemographic characteristics. The questionnaire also captured participant’s perceptions of their neighborhood’s walkability (Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale; PANES) and the physical activity supportiveness of neighborhood parks (Park Perceptions Index; PPI). Objectively-measured neighborhood walkability was estimated using Walk Score®. The average (SD) age of participants was 46.6 (14.8) years and 67.2% were female. Participants, on average, participated in at least 30-minutes of MVPA on 3.4 (2.1) days/week and undertook resistance training 2.0 (1.8) days/week. Adjusting for covariates, Walk Score® was not associated with any fitness outcomes. Adjusting for covariates, the PANES index was positively associated (p < 0.05) with CRF, MST, flexibility, and overall fitness and the PPI was positively associated (p < 0.05) with all fitness outcomes except MST. Our findings provide novel preliminary evidence suggesting the neighborhood built environment may be important for supporting higher health-related fitness levels in adults.

Advancing the physical activity curriculum at the collegiate level

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley (BJ) Warren ◽  
Eleanor Odenheimer Brin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
College Courses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
College Course ◽  
Collegiate Level ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Fitness And Health ◽  
Health Related Fitness ◽  
Fitness Levels

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess college students’ pre- and post- health-related, fitness levels, as determined by the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) five components of fitness, in a one-credit, graded college course and to objectively measure any differences between those pre- and post- health-related fitness levels. Design/methodology/approach In a field setting, the investigators conducted health-related, fitness assessments using the ACSM validated protocols. In addition, descriptive statistics were collected including demographic information, such as, age and sex. Findings Paired-sample t tests were used to calculate the pre- and post-test scores for six fitness- and health-related categories across four semesters. There were statistically significant (p<0.001) improvements in six different areas in each of the four semesters with the exception of the resting heart rate and VO2 Max measurements in the fall semester of 2014. Originality/value This study builds upon the current body of work tracking trends in physical activity, college courses. The results answer health promotion scientists’ call for more research on the implementation and evaluation of programmatic interventions (Domitrovich and Greendberg, 2000; Durlack, 1998; Durlak and DuPre, 2008) “in real-world settings in order to understand if and how an intervention works” (Søvik et al., 2016, p. 238). This results in addressing a research gap in assessing the effectiveness of physical activity courses in higher education (Keating et al., 2005).

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.

scholarly journals The association between neighborhood built environment and health-related fitness

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Levi Frehlich ◽  
Chelsea Christie ◽  
Paul Ronksley ◽  
Tanvir C. Turin ◽  
Patricia Doyle-Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Environment And Health ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment ◽  
Health Related Fitness

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.

Principal Components of Fitness: Relationship to Physical Activity and Lifestyle

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy J. Shephard ◽  
Claude Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Principal Components ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Cardiovascular Fitness ◽  
Abdominal Circumference ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
F Factor ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Related Fitness

Interrelationships between metabolic and cardiorespiratory health were examined in 350 healthy adults. Four principal components accounted for 66.7% of the variance in 172 males (M) and for 62.4% in 178 females (F). Factor 1, "obesity," related to body mass index, abdominal circumference, total skinfold thickness, and (M only) abdominal/hip circumference ratio. Factor 2, "cardiovascular fitness," had loadings from resting heart rate and PWC150/kg. Factors 3 and 4 were related to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, respectively (plus blood pressures, particularly in F). Factor 1 was linked to caffeine consumption and to exercise frequency (F) or perceived intensity (M). Factor 2 was linked to perceptions of activity relative to others (M and F) and to the intensity of activity (M only). Factors 3 and 4 were associated with perceived fitness and physical activity relative to others. Because perceptions of physical activity and fitness lack consistency, it is suggested that health be judged more directly from simple measures of health related fitness that require little subject cooperation. Key words: caffeine consumption, cardiorespiratory fitness, gender differences, health related fitness, metabolic fitness, perceived activity

scholarly journals Children’s Weight Gain and Cardiovascular Fitness Loss over the Summer

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Brusseau ◽  
Ryan Burns
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Cardiovascular Fitness ◽  
The Body ◽  
School Year ◽  
School Based ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Related Fitness

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of summer breaks on the body composition and cardiovascular fitness of elementary school children who participated in a multi-year school-based physical activity intervention. Participants were 404 children who had their height and weight measured and completed the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) during physical education classes at the beginning and end of the school year for three consecutive years. To examine the effects of time on health-related fitness data, general linear mixed effects models were employed. The results indicate that there was a trend toward an increase in body mass index (BMI) after the summer of 2015 (p = 0.958), and a significant increase in BMI after the summer of 2016 compared to time point 1 (p < 0.001). For PACER laps, there were trends toward decreases in PACER laps after the summers of 2015 (p = 0.515) and 2016 (p = 0.073). Summer breaks tended to attenuate the BMI and PACER lap improvements that were observed during the intervention. While school-based physical activity programming has had some successes in improving health-related fitness markers, the loss of these improvements over the summer is of concern to both practitioners and researchers. It is clear that additional efforts are needed to limit obesogenic behaviors during the summer months.

scholarly journals Neighborhood built environment impacts park use of diverse, low-income mothers and their children

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-110
Author(s):  
Lauren Mullenbach ◽  
Lincoln Larson ◽  
Myron Floyd ◽  
Oriol Marquet ◽  
Jing-Huei Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racially Diverse ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Park Use ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Low Income Mothers ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment

Built environment features, including parks, often exacerbate health disparities. We examined built environment perceptions and park use among a population at high risk for physical health outcomes: racially diverse, low-income mothers across the United States. Perceived safety from crime and living near a park were associated with more frequent park use for mothers and their children, and neighborhood walkability was linked to longer park visits. However, only 40% of mothers lived within a ten-minute walk from a park, and perceptions of walkability and safety from crime were low. To enhance physical activity and health of low-income mothers and their children, investments are needed to close disparities in park access and improve neighborhood safety.

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