Co-benefits of designing communities for active living: an exploration of literature

James F Sallis, Chad Spoon, Nick Cavill, Jessa K Engelberg, Klaus Gebel, Mike Parker, Christina M Thornton, Debbie Lou, Amanda L Wilson, Carmen L Cutter, Ding Ding, James F Sallis, Chad Spoon, Nick Cavill, Jessa K Engelberg, Klaus Gebel, Mike Parker, Christina M Thornton, Debbie Lou, Amanda L Wilson, Carmen L Cutter, Ding Ding

Abstract

To reverse the global epidemic of physical inactivity that is responsible for more than 5 million deaths per year, many groups recommend creating "activity-friendly environments." Such environments may have other benefits, beyond facilitating physical activity, but these potential co-benefits have not been well described. The purpose of the present paper is to explore a wide range of literature and conduct an initial summary of evidence on co-benefits of activity-friendly environments. An extensive but non-systematic review of scientific and "gray" literature was conducted. Five physical activity settings were defined: parks/open space/trails, urban design, transportation, schools, and workplaces/buildings. Several evidence-based activity-friendly features were identified for each setting. Six potential outcomes/co-benefits were searched: physical health, mental health, social benefits, safety/injury prevention, environmental sustainability, and economics. A total of 418 higher-quality findings were summarized. The overall summary indicated 22 of 30 setting by outcome combinations showed "strong" evidence of co-benefits. Each setting had strong evidence of at least three co-benefits, with only one occurrence of a net negative effect. All settings showed the potential to contribute to environmental sustainability and economic benefits. Specific environmental features with the strongest evidence of multiple co-benefits were park proximity, mixed land use, trees/greenery, accessibility and street connectivity, building design, and workplace physical activity policies/programs. The exploration revealed substantial evidence that designing community environments that make physical activity attractive and convenient is likely to produce additional important benefits. The extent of the evidence justifies systematic reviews and additional research to fill gaps.

References

    1. Lee IM, Shiroma EJ, Lobelo F, Puska P, Blair SN, Katzmarzyk PT. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):219–29. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61031-9.
    1. Hallal PC, Andersen LB, Bull FC, Guthold R, Haskell WL, Ekelund U. Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):247–57. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60646-1.
    1. Ng SW, Popkin BM. Time use and physical activity: a shift away from movement across the globe. Obe Rev. 2012;13(8):659–80. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00982.x.
    1. United Nations. Political declaration of the high level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (Sixth seventh session); 2011 []
    1. Brownson RC, Boehmer TK, Luke DA. Declining rates of physical activity in the United States: what are the contributors? Annu Rev Public Health. 2005;26:421–43. doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144437.
    1. Sallis JF, Floyd MF, Rodriguez DA, Saelens BE. Role of built environments in physical activity, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2012;125:729–37. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.969022.
    1. World Health Organization. Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2004 []
    1. Bornstein DB, Pate RR, Pratt M. A review of the national physical activity plans of six countries. J Phys Act Health. 2009;6(Suppl 2):S245–64.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strategies to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases: the CDC guide to strategies to increase physical activity in the community. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2011 []
    1. Heath GW, Brownson RC, Kruger J, Miles R, Powell KE, Ramsey LT, et al. The effectiveness of urban design and land use and transport policies and practices to increase physical activity: a systematic review. J Phys Act Health. 2006;3(Suppl 1):S55–76.
    1. Koplan JP, Liverman CT, Kraak VI. Preventing childhood obesity: health in the balance. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2005.
    1. Giles-Corti B, Foster S, Shilton T, Falconer R. The co-benefits for health of investing in active transportation. N S W Public Health Bull. 2010;21:122–7. doi: 10.1071/NB10027.
    1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Promoting or creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 2008 []
    1. Frank LD, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Chapman JE, Saelens BE, Bachman W. Many pathways from land use to health: associations between neighborhood walkability and active transportation, body mass index, and air quality. J Am Plann Assoc. 2006;72:75–87. doi: 10.1080/01944360608976725.
    1. Frank LD, Greenwald MJ, Winkelman S, Chapman JE, Kavage S. Carbonless footprints: promoting health and climate stabilization through active transportation. Prev Med. 2010;50(Suppl 1):S99–105. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.09.025.
    1. Di Nardo F, Saulle R, La Torre G. Green areas and health outcomes: a systematic review of the scientific literature. Ital J Public Health. 2010;7(4):402–13.
    1. Sallis JF, Owen N, Fisher EB. Ecological models of health behavior. In: Glanz K, Rimer BK, Viswanath K, editors. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. 4. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2008. pp. 465–86.
    1. Ding D, Sallis JF, Kerr JK, Lee S, Rosenberg DE. Neighborhood environment and physical activity among youth: a review. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41(4):442–55. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.06.036.
    1. Godbey G, Mowen A, Ashburn VA. The benefits of physical activity provided by park and recreation services: the scientific evidence. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association; 2010.
    1. Sallis JF, Adams MA, Ding D. Physical activity and the built environment. In: Cawley J, editor. The Oxford Handbook of the Social Science of Obesity. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2011. pp. 433–51.
    1. Stewart O, Moudon AV, Claybrooke C. Multistate evaluation of safe routes to school programs. Am J Health Promot. 2014;28(sp3):S89–96. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.130430-QUAN-210.
    1. Bauman AE, Reis RS, Sallis JF, Wells JC, Loos RJF, Martin BW. Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not? Lancet. 2012;380(9838):258–71. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60735-1.
    1. Miles R. Neighborhood disorder, perceived safety, and readiness to encourage use of local playgrounds. Am J Prev Med. 2008;34(4):275–81. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.01.007.
    1. Molnar BE, Gortmaker SL, Bull FC, Buka SL. Unsafe to play? neighborhood disorder and lack of safety predict reduced physical activity among urban children and adolescents. Am J Health Promot. 2004;18(5):378–86. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-18.5.378.
    1. Cain KL, Millstein RA, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Gavand K, Frank LD, et al. Contribution of streetscape audits to explanation of physical activity in four age groups based on the microscale audit of pedestrian streetscapes (MAPS) Soc Sci Med. 2014;116:82–92. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.06.042.
    1. Sarmiento OL, Torres A, Jacoby E, Pratt M, Schmid TL, Stierling G. The ciclovia-recreativa: a mass-recreational program with public health potential. J Phys Act Health. 2010;7 Suppl 2:S163–80.
    1. Badland H, Schofield G. Transport, urban design, and physical activity: an evidence-based update. Transport Res D-TR E. 2005;10(3):177–96. doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2004.12.001.
    1. Rothman L, Buliung R, Macarthur C, To T, Howard A. Walking and child pedestrian injury: a systematic review of built environment correlates of safe walking. Inj Prev. 2014;20:41–9.
    1. Torres A, Sarmiento OL, Stauber C, Zarama R. The ciclovia and cicloruta programs: promising interventions to promote physical activity and social capital in Bogota, Colombia. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(2):e23–30. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301142.
    1. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Development, Community, and Environment Division . Parking spaces/community spaces: finding the balance through smart growth solutions. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2006.
    1. McMillan TE. Walking and biking to school, physical activity, and health outcomes. A research brief. Princeton, NJ: Active Living Research, a National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2009.
    1. Davison KK, Lawson CT. Do attributes in the physical environment influence children’s physical activity? a review of the literature. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006;3:19. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-3-19.
    1. Spengler JO. Promoting physical activity through the shared use of school and community recreational resources. A research brief. Princeton, NJ: Active Living Research, a National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2012.
    1. Lafleur M, Gonzalez E, Schwarte L, Banthia R, Kuo T, Verderber J et al. Increasing physical activity in under-resourced communities through school-based, joint-use agreements, Los Angeles County, 2010–2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2013, 10; .
    1. Zimring C, Joseph A, Nicoll GL, Tsepas S. Influences of building design and site design on physical activity: research and intervention opportunities. Am J Prev Med. 2005;28(2Suppl 2):186–93. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.10.025.
    1. Nicoll G, Zimring C. Effect of innovative building design on physical activity. J Public Health Policy. 2009;30 Suppl 1:S111–23. doi: 10.1057/jphp.2008.55.
    1. Crespo NC, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Saelens BE, Frank LD. Worksite physical activity policies and environments in relation to employee physical activity. Am J Health Promot. 2011;25(4):264–71. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.081112-QUAN-280.
    1. Proper KI, Koning M, van der Beek AJ, Hildebrandt VH, Bosscher RJ, van Mechelen W. The effectiveness of worksite physical activity programs on physical activity, physical fitness, and health. Clin J Sport Med. 2003;13(2):106–17. doi: 10.1097/00042752-200303000-00008.
    1. Alkhajah TA, Reeves MM, Eakin EG, Winkler EAH, Owen N, Healy GN. Sit-stand workstations: a pilot intervention to reduce office sitting time. Am J Prev Med. 2012;43(3):298–303. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.05.027.
    1. Adams MA, Sallis JF, Kerr J, Conway TL, Saelens BE, Frank LD, et al. Neighborhood environment profiles related to physical activity and weight status: a latent profile analysis. Prev Med. 2011;52:326–31. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.02.020.
    1. Sallis JF, Bowles HR, Bauman A, Ainsworth BE, Bull FC, Craig CL, et al. Neighborhood environments and physical activity among adults in 11 countries. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(6):484–90. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.01.031.
    1. Frank LD, Saelens BE, Powell KE, Chapman JE. Stepping toward causation: do built environments or neighborhood and travel preferences explain physical activity, driving, and obesity? Soc Sci Med. 2007;65(9):1898–914. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.05.053.
    1. World Health Organization . Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press; 2009.
    1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability (IPCC working group II contribution to fifth assessment report) Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY: Cambridge University Press; 2014.

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren