scholarly journals The Built Environment as a Determinant of Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies and Natural Experiments

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Kärmeniemi ◽  
Tiina Lankila ◽  
Tiina Ikäheimo ◽  
Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen ◽  
Raija Korpelainen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Natural Experiments

scholarly journals Workplace neighbourhood built environment and workers’ physically-active and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review of observational studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Yu Lin ◽  
Mohammad Javad Koohsari ◽  
Yung Liao ◽  
Kaori Ishii ◽  
Ai Shibata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Recreational Physical Activity ◽  
Domain Specific

Abstract Background Many desk-based workers can spend more than half of their working hours sitting, with low levels of physical activity. Workplace neighbourhood built environment may influence workers’ physical activities and sedentary behaviours on workdays. We reviewed and synthesised evidence from observational studies on associations of workplace neighbourhood attributes with domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour and suggested research priorities for improving the quality of future relevant studies. Methods Published studies were obtained from nine databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, Transport Research International Documentation, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, and CINAHL) and crosschecked by Google Scholar. Observational studies with quantitative analyses estimating associations between workplace neighbourhood built environment attributes and workers’ physical activity or sedentary behaviour were included. Studies were restricted to those published in English language peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2019. Results A total of 55 studies and 455 instances of estimated associations were included. Most instances of potential associations of workplace neighbourhood built environment attributes with total or domain-specific (occupational, transport, and recreational) physical activity were non-significant. However, destination-related attributes (i.e., longer distances from workplace to home and access to car parking) were positively associated with transport-related sedentary behaviour (i.e., car driving). Conclusions The findings reinforce the case for urban design policies on designing mixed-use neighbourhoods where there are opportunities to live closer to workplaces and have access to a higher density of shops, services, and recreational facilities. Studies strengthening correspondence between the neighbourhood built environment attributes and behaviours are needed to identify and clarify potential relationships. Protocol registration The protocol of this systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 2 December 2019 (registration number: CRD42019137341).

scholarly journals Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonina Tcymbal ◽  
Yolanda Demetriou ◽  
Anne Kelso ◽  
Laura Wolbring ◽  
Kathrin Wunsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Background Individual health behavior is related to environmental and social structures. To promote physical activity (PA) effectively, it is necessary to consider structural influences. Previous research has shown the relevance of the built environment. However, sex/gender differences have yet not been considered. The aim of this systematic review was to identify built environmental determinants of PA by taking sex/gender into account. Methods A systematic literature search was carried out using six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Knowledge) to identify studies analyzing the effect of changes in the built environment on PA, taking sex/gender into account. To be included, studies had to be based on quantitative data and a longitudinal study design. Changes in the built environment had to be objectively assessed. The methodological quality of the studies was examined using the QualSyst tool for examining risk of bias. Results In total, 36 studies published since 2000 were included in this review. The data synthesis revealed that the majority of reviewed studies found the built environment to be a determinant of PA behavior for both, males and females, in a similar way. Creating a new infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transportation showed a positive effect on PA behavior. Findings were most consistent for the availability of public transport, which was positively associated with overall PA and walking. The improvement of walking and cycling infrastructure had no effect on the overall level of PA, but it attracted more users and had a positive effect on active transportation. In women, the availability of public transport, safe cycling lanes, housing density, and the distance to daily destinations proved to be more relevant with regard to their PA behavior. In men, street network characteristics and road environment, such as intersection connectivity, local road density, and the presence of dead-end roads, were more important determinants of PA. Conclusion This review sheds light on the relevance of the built environment on PA. By focusing on sex/gender differences, a new aspect was addressed that should be further analyzed in future research and considered by urban planners and other practitioners.

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