Association of Built Environment with Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Men and Women Living inside the City Wall of Xi'an, China.

Yuliang Sun,Xinxin Zhang,Wenfei Zhu,Chunzhen He

doi:10.3390/ijerph17144940

Yuliang Sun, Xinxin Zhang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17144940

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Abstract

This study was to investigate the association of built environment (BE) with physical activity (PA) and physical fitness of residents inside the city wall of Xi’an, one of the most historic cities in China. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 728 adults in this area. BE and PA were measured by Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, blood pressure (BP), lung capacity, curl up, sit and reach, reaction time, balance, and grip strength were also measured. The results showed, for men, aesthetics was positively associated with total and leisure-time PA, and curl-up tests, respectively. Walking/cycling facilities were positively associated with leisure-time PA. Street connectivity was negatively associated with leisure-time PA and BMI. Residential density was positively correlated with BMI. Access to service was positively associated with lung capacity. Crime safety was negatively correlated with reaction time. For women, residential density was negatively associated with transportation PA and BP. Street connectivity was positively associated with curl-up test. The results suggest some BE attributes are positively related to PA and physical fitness in this population. Creating more PA-supportive BEs is recommended in this historic area along with urban conservation.

Highlights

With the progress of economic development, the health consciousness of residents in China has been constantly improving
Higher rated built environment (BE) attributes were associated with higher levels of physical activity (PA)
BE attributes like residential density and street connectivity were better-related to Body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP), while access to services, aesthetics, and crime safety were better-correlated with some physical fitness variables

Summary

Introduction

With the progress of economic development, the health consciousness of residents in China has been constantly improving. Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the most important reasons affecting health [3,4]. Built environments (BEs) are one of the most important factors affecting PA, sedentary behaviors and health [7,8,9]. It has been proven that a positive association exists between residential density and transportation-related walking [10]. Some researchers have confirmed street lighting near the residence, the planning of sidewalks and vehicle ways, and other road facilities are positively related to residents’ PA levels [12,13]. Public order in the community, the artificial or natural aesthetic factors of the environment, and the construction of public entertainment places are positively associated with residents’ PA [14]

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