Urban space and physical activity are a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Lack of physical activity (PA) is considered as one of the risk factors for a number of chronic non-communicable diseases. The sedentary lifestyle of a significant part of developed countries population, along with the insufficient effectiveness of traditional tools to stimulate the PA of the population, determine the interest of healthcare in optimizing urban space for increasing PA. In Russia, the number of studies in this area is extremely small, which determines the purpose of this review: presentation of the foreign results of the implementation of practical concepts and programs for optimizing urban space, as well as prospective studies that demonstrate the most evidence-based causal relationships of PA changes. Focus in prevention of diseases in Russia over the past decade, determines the scientific interest in risk factors, the features of its formation, and possible ways of implementation. In this regard, the results of such topics will be in demand by Russian health care, which will require the conduct of own Russian studies, taking into account foreign experience.