Abstract
BackgroundMany aspects of the built, physical environment have been shown to be associated with physical activity, but little research has focused on the unique circumstances and urban form of the suburban environment. The following analyses explore the associations between features of the built environment and components of overall physical activity, after accounting for neighborhood variability using hierarchical linear modeling.MethodsThese analyses utilized regionally-specific Geographic Information Systems data along with health measures collected from the 2007–8 Canadian Community Health Survey. Linear and logistic regression models explored the associations between measures of the built environment with leisure-time and transport-related physical activity.ResultsRespondents living with the highest number of intersections were more likely to engage in walking or cycling for leisure (OR: 1.85 CI 95%: 1.23-2.78), and in general, those living in areas with higher residential density were more likely to engage in active modes of transportation (OR: 2.67, CI 95%: 1.34-5.34).ConclusionsFurther analyses are necessary to clarify the extent to which modifications to such features of the built environment may improve physical activity participation in similar suburban communities.
Highlights
Many aspects of the built, physical environment have been shown to be associated with physical activity, but little research has focused on the unique circumstances and urban form of the suburban environment
While the pathways to health and disease may be both direct and indirect, when taken together, emerging evidence suggests that patterns of discretionary physical activity (PA) participation may be significantly influenced by those features of the physical and social environment associated with PA accessibility [3,4]
Research suggests that the role of the built environment in influencing opportunities to engage in PA varies [8], as neighborhoods may provide constraints and opportunities for different forms of PA [9]
Summary
Many aspects of the built, physical environment have been shown to be associated with physical activity, but little research has focused on the unique circumstances and urban form of the suburban environment. Current estimates suggest that between ~3% and 28% of the variance in PA participation can be accounted for by neighbourhood-level differences in the built environment [5,6], consistent with ecologic models which view PA as having multiple influences; including intrapersonal, interpersonal, policy, and environmental components [7]. While many vigorous forms of PA are engaged in for recreational or health-related purposes, walking and cycling remain two of the most common forms of PA [10] and can be done for leisure, recreation, exercise, occupational, or transportrelated reasons. This may make walking and bicycling more susceptible to environmental influences [11]. In addition to studying leisure-time PA, transport-related activities, such as walking or cycling, are alternate means to increase total daily energy expenditure [12]
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