Availability Of Recreational Facilities Research Articles

The availability between recreational facilities and physical activity of US adolescents

Determining the locations where adolescents tend to accumulate greater amounts of physical activity may assist policymakers to address the built environment design and promote PA. This study evaluated the association between the availability of recreational facilities and average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day of US adolescents in 2017 (n = 1,437). Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2017 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study, an internet-based study collecting information on diet and PA of parent and adolescent dyads. Adolescents aged 12–17 from the US were included. Predicted daily minutes of MVPA were calculated. The exposure variables of interest were the availability of school recreational facilities, indoor recreational facilities, playing fields, bike/hiking/walking trails or paths or public parks. Participants were excluded if no information was provided for MVPA or availability of recreational facilities. Unadjusted and adjusted linearregression analysis was used to calculate mean daily minutes of MVPA and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals. In fully adjusted models, we found statistically significant associations between the type of recreational facility and differences in daily minutes of MVPA for school (p-value < 0.001) and public parks p-value < 0.001), but not for the other recreational facilities. The average daily minutes of MVPA differed by 4.4 min (95 % CI 2.6, 6.2) if participants had school recreational facilities, respectively. School recreational facilities are important for engaging adolescents in PA objectives. Features within school recreational facilities should be studied to further investigate contributions to increased PA levels.

Nursing Students’ Intention to Work in Rural Areas after Graduation: A Mixed Approach Study

Introduction: A key issue of Human Resources for Health and constraint to Universal Health Coverage is a disparity between the number of healthcare providers in urban and rural areas. The accessibility to health services has been found difficult in rural areas due to shortage of health workers. As final-year nursing students are the prospective human resource for health, this study aimed to assess the intention of nursing students to work in rural areas and identify the motivating and discouraging factors associated with their intention. Methods: Cross-sectional research design with mixed methods was conducted among final-year bachelor-level nursing students of Pokhara, Nepal from December 2019 to July 2020. A census method using a self-administered questionnaire was used for the quantitative method and in-depth interviews were conducted for the qualitative method. For quantitative method, descriptive and inferential statistics were used while content analysis for the qualitative method was carried out. Results: About one-third (33.3%) participants intended to work in rural areas. The motivating factors were an opportunity for career advancement (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.35-10.77), locating near to family (AOR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.36-9.45), high salary/incentives, and high healthcare needs in rural areas; whereas discouraging factors were separation from family and friends (AOR 4.10, 95% CI 1.34-12.52), less availability of recreational facilities (AOR 3.68, 95% CI 1.11-12.21), inadequate salary/incentives, lack of equipment and resources, low utilization of skills and knowledge and low self-perceived competency. Conclusions: Only one-third of the participants had the intention to have the job placement in rural areas. The participants preferred to work staying with or nearby their family. The enrollment of students of rural origin/residence or background in a nursing program should be ensured. Various motivating factors like training, attractive incentives, infrastructures, and facilities should be offered to make rural jobs more attractive.

Availability of Recreation Facilities and Parks In Relation to Adolescent Participation in Organized Sports and Activity Programs

Most adolescents do not meet physical activity guidelines, so understanding facilitators and barriers is important. This study used surveys and geocoded location data to examine associations of availability of parks and recreation facilities with adolescent-reported participation in organized team sports and physical activity classes. The study was conducted with 928 adolescents aged 12-17 years, plus one parent/caretaker, recruited from two regions of the US. Adolescents’ participation in teams and classes was positively associated with parents’ perceptions of multiple available recreation environments , but not with objectively-measured availability. Having multiple nearby parks and recreation facilities may provide adolescents with more options for participating in organized team sports and activity classes.

Inclination of Student’s Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities in Malaysian Universities

The integration of behavior change theory to investigate factors of behavioral influence in understanding the behavioral intention of students’ extra-curricular participation has been limited, contributing to the existing gap that highlights the preliminary empirical observation on how the factors influence students’ extra-curricular activity participation. The existing gap hinders a comprehensive understanding of the impact of procrastination and peer influence on students’ extra-curricular participation. Hence, further contributing to the existing body of knowledge is yet to expand the dimension and strengthen the capacity of the research area. Conversely, this study investigates the factors (recreational facilities, course structure, peer influence, time management, and procrastination) that influence students’ extra-curricular participation by integrating behavior change theory. The findings ensure direct contribution to the extended dimension of existing literatures. contribution to the extended dimension of existing literatures. Therefore, this study study will further investigate the moderating effects of peer influence and procrastination on the preexisting variables. A total of 400 responses were collected from university students from 25 universities in Malaysia. The data is analyzed using a Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The result affirms the outcome of previous studies emphasizing that extra-curricular participation is significantly influenced by the availability of recreational facilities, adequate course structure, and procrastination. On the other hand, procrastination moderates a negative correlation between time management and students’ extra-curricular participation. With sufficient resources to encourage extra-curricular participation, universities should emphasize ameliorating students’ development and counseling policies to guide students’ peer groups and their behavioral actions toward schools’ extra activities.

Decline in older adults’ daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of individual and built environment factors

BackgroundExtensive research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the daily mobility of older adults. However, very little attention has been paid to the role of individual and built environmental factors in decline in older adults’ daily mobility during the pandemic.MethodsBased on a cohort survey of 741 older adults in Hong Kong, we conducted a one-way ANOVA to explore the differences in determinants (individual or environmental factors) of older adults’ daily mobility between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, multilevel linear regression was performed to examine how individual characteristics and built environment factors are associated with changes in older adults’ daily mobility during the pandemic.ResultsResults show that the duration of active travel declined from 174.72 to 76.92 min per week, and that the public transport use frequency decreased from an average of 6.14 to 3.96 trips per week during the COVID-19 pandemic (before the rollout of vaccination programme). We also found residential density (p < 0.05) and the number of bus stop was negatively associated with the decline in their active travel (p < 0.01), while a higher destination mix was associated with more significant decrease in active travel (p < 0.01). A higher availability of recreational facilities in neighbourhoods was associated with a greater decrease in public transport use (p < 0.05). In addition, those who were older or having depressive symptoms, which are considered a vulnerable group, were negatively associated with decrease in their mobility (p < 0.001).ConclusionsMaintaining mobility and social interactions are crucial for older adults’ health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found that individual and environmental factors differentially affected older adults’ active travel and public transport use during the pandemic. Our findings contribute to understanding the COVID-19 impact on daily mobility in older adults and support more effective active travel promotion policies in the post-pandemic future.

Trade-offs between the natural environment and recreational infrastructure: A case study about peatlands under different management scenarios

The importance of peatlands for conservation and provision of public services has been well evidenced in the last years, especially in relation to their contribution to the net zero carbon emission agenda. However, little is known about the importance of recreation relative to conservation and their trade-offs. In this paper we address this knowledge gap by exploring the trade-offs between natural properties of peatlands and recreational infrastructures for different categories of recreationists (walkers, cyclists, anglers, and birdwatchers) of an open heather moors and peatlands landscape. We do so building on a series of management scenarios formulated through participatory methods and applying choice experiment related to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Global Geopark in the UK. Results show a high degree of heterogeneity in landscape preferences across different user groups. Recreationists had a higher appreciation for semi-natural habitats compared to pristine or restored peatland (e.g., land rewetting). Walkers and cyclists were more sensitive to changes in the availability of recreational facilities than to environmental quality, while anglers’ and birdwatchers’ preferences were more aligned with values promoted by restoration policies. Overall, our results point to a potential value conflict between benefits generated by conservation and the benefits valued most by some groups of recreationists. To maximise success conflicts like the one revealed here need to be considered in strategies that provide a central role for peatlands in net zero climate mitigation strategies.

Participation and Hindrances to Students’ Recreation at Selected Universities in Ondo State, Nigeria

Recreation has several benefits, one of which is the health advantage that it brings to those who engage in it. Apart from being beneficial to health, one of the other benefits is in connection with good academic performance that it stimulates. This study focused on three selected public universities in Ondo State, Nigeria. It investigates the availability of recreational facilities, students' level of participation in recreational activities, and hindrances to students’ recreational participation in the selected universities. A purposive sample of 300 students was adopted and disaggregated into 106, 139 and 55 for the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OSUSTECH) respectively, using the relative population of students in the three universities. Data acquisition instruments included a questionnaire, interview and observation. The questionnaire administration involved a multi-stage sampling procedure that cumulated in obtaining data from the final-year students of each university's faculties and departments. Findings revealed that students' participation in recreation was at low ebb in the three universities with varying degrees of hindrances to participation across the institutions. Poor or absent facilities were the most dominant hindrance to recreation. The worst case was in OSUSTECH where the school authority did not provide any recreational facility on campus. Recommendations include sensitization programs to enlighten students on the need for recreation and the benefits of same to their health and educational pursuit; and upscaling of recreational facilities in the studied institutions.

Geographical Analysis of Entertainment Services in the City of Daratu Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

The impact of the recreational services that exist within the group of services that are practiced within the geographical framework of the city, is not limited to the lives of its residents and their activities, but also on the residents of the surrounding areas. Recreational services contribute to providing diversified investment opportunities for leisure time, so that they are appropriate and beneficial to the health, comfort and well-being of the population at the lowest possible cost, without the goal of their establishment being financial gain, as they lead to the creation of mental, psychological and physical balance on the level of one individual and on the basis of society in a way. In general, recreational services are an integral part of urban activities in most cities of the world. Rather, the concept of modernity and urbanization in contemporary urban centers is measured to some extent by the availability of recreational facilities for their inhabitants, and the study also showed the low level of efficiency of recreational services in terms of their spatial distribution and numbers. As it is concentrated in some neighborhoods of the city, while it is less or absent in other neighborhoods, as well as not taking into account the planning standards in its distribution and during its construction in line with the population increase, urban expansion and the residents' needs for these services. The success in providing these different types of recreational facilities depends on how they are distributed geographically. The balanced distribution of these activities determines the success of the adopted plans in achieving the required goals and policies.

Twelve-month findings of the MOVE Frankston randomised controlled trial of interventions to increase recreation facility usage and physical activity among adults.

Substantial cross-sectional evidence and limited longitudinal research indicates that the availability of recreational facilities (e.g., parks, fitness centres) is associated with physical activity participation. However, few intervention trials have investigated how recreational infrastructure can be used to reduce inactivity levels in communities. The MOVE Frankston study aimed to assess the impact of low intensity strategies to promote use of a multi-purpose leisure and aquatic centre in a socioeconomically diverse, metropolitan community. This randomised controlled trial of two years’ duration compared public awareness raising (control condition) with two interventions: mailed information about the centre and a free entry pass (I-O); and this minimal intervention supplemented by customer relations management support through telephone contact, mailed promotional materials and additional incentives (I+S). Participants (n = 1320) were inactive adults living in the City of Frankston, Melbourne Australia. There were 928 people (70.3%) followed up at 12 months (61.2% female, 52% ≥55 yrs). Compared with controls, attendance at the Centre once or more was higher in both the I-O (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.28–2.50) and I+S groups (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03–2.07). The proportion of people using the centre weekly did not differ by group. The odds of being in contemplation or preparation to use the Centre were higher in both the I-O (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.28–2.42) and I+S groups (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.07–2.06). Total physical activity and related social and cognitive factors did not differ between the groups. The findings show that the low intensity promotional strategies prompted occasional attendance and increased readiness to use this recreational facility, a level of behaviour change unlikely to reduce non-communicable disease risk. It is recommended that more frequent customer relations contact, and involvement of healthcare providers, be tested as strategies to encourage inactive adults to take up physical activity opportunities at recreational facilities of this type.

ОБУЧЕНИЕ И ВОСПИТАНИЕ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ В ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНЫХ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЯХ Г. ОРСКА С УЧЕТОМ САНИТАРНО-ГИГИЕНИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЙ

The study is devoted to the problem of studying the sanitary and hygienic conditions of education in educational institutions of Orsk from the standpoint of the health of schoolchildren. The aim of the study was to study the dependence of the health of schoolchildren on the sanitary and hygienic conditions of education in educational institutions of Orsk. The material and technical equipment of some schools in Orsk, the sanitary and hygienic conditions of education, the microclimate of the premises, the availability of recreational facilities and the relationship between the level of morbidity among schoolchildren and sanitary and hygienic conditions were studied..The conditions of education of schoolchildren, placement in ecologically unfavorable territories are analyzed: dangerously close location of industrial enterprises, highways with heavy traffic. The sanitary and hygienic state of educational institutions was analyzed, which revealed a positive trend, as evidenced by an increase in the number in 2019. secondary schools belonging to the 1st group of sanitary and epidemiological welfare and the absence of schools with the 3rd group of sanitary and epidemiological welfare. The number of educational institutions requiring major repairs has decreased. Along with positive dynamics, negative aspects are noted. The illumination of workplaces in classrooms in 2019 deteriorated, which correlates with an increase in the number of children with a decrease in visual acuity. In 2019, the proportion of educational institutions that do not meet sanitary and hygienic standards in terms of microclimate parameters increased, at the same time, it is noted that respiratory diseases among children and adolescents occupy a leading place.

School Plant Management and Secondary School Teachers’ Job Motivation in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined school plant management and secondary school teachers’ job motivation in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of the study four research hypotheses were posed to guide the study. The instrument used for data collection were a 30-item questionnaire named School Plant Management and Teachers’ Job Motivation Questionnaire (SPMTJMQ) constructed by the researcher. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used as statistical tool for data analysis. Each of the hypotheses was tested at .05level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there was significant relationship between school sites, nature of school building, availability of instructional facilities, availability of recreational facilities and secondary school teachers’ job motivation in Calabar. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that, both government and private school administrators should see to the need of making available adequate learning resources, provide basic housing accommodation (school building) like classroom, staffroom, library and laboratory for both students and their teachers in order to encourage teaching-learning activities within the school system

Associations Between Neighborhood Recreation Environments and Adolescent Physical Activity.

To examine relations between parents' perceived neighborhood recreation environments and multiple measures of adolescent physical activity (PA). Participants (N = 928; age 14.1 [1.4]y, 50.4% girls, and 33.4% nonwhite/Hispanic) and their parents were recruited. Teen moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was assessed with 7-day accelerometry. Self-reported total PA, PA near home, and PA at recreation locations were also assessed. Proximity of home to 8 types of recreation facilities was reported by parents. Mixed-model linear regressions relating environments to various measures of PA were adjusted for demographics and neighborhood clustering. Perceiving more availability of recreation facilities around home was related to higher reports of days per week with 60+ minutes of PA (b = 0.153; P < .05), reported PA time near home (b = 0.152; P < .001), PA time at recreation facilities (b = 0.161; P < .001), accelerometer-measured total MVPA (b = 1.741; P < .05), and nonschool MVPA (b = 1.508; P < .01). Adolescents living in lowest quintile of recreation facility availability averaged 27.6 (3.2) minutes per day of total MVPA versus 49.8 (3.5) minutes per day for those living in highest quintile. Adolescents living in neighborhoods that parents reported having more availability of recreation facilities around homes had higher activity across 5 indicators of PA.

Halal Tourism Destination Development Model

The development of halal tourism needs an advancement, considering its vast market potential in Indonesia in the midst of readiness issues. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychological orientation: perceptions, motivations, and preferences of stakeholders in developing halal tourism destinations. In addition, to formulate a development model for halal tourism destinations in Indonesia. The population in this study comprised of tourists; tourism business owners; as well as the officials taking charge in halal tourist destinations, and halal tourism products and brands. Data collection of existing conditions was conducted in regard to halal tourism product offerings. Afterward, the assessment of various potential halal tourism resources in Indonesia was carried out through a scoring system. The results of this study showed that the gradual development of halal tourism destinations has main priority in the development of halal food &amp; beverages at the level of 0.49; the availability of places of worship at the level of 0.34; the availability of recreational facilities for different gender at the level of 0.090; and the atmosphere of Islam at the level of 0.068. The right tourism development model begins with the classification of tourism with an Islamic approach, namely: Level 1 - Conventional Tourism, Level 2 - Muslim Friendly Tourism, Level 3 - Muslim Religious Tourism and Level 4 - Halal Tourism. The optimization model developed in this study is expected to be beneficial for governments, practitioners, and academicians in designing halal tourism development policies, as well as other institutions that have particular interest to halal tourism expansion in Indonesia.

The Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms, Functional Health Status, Physical Activity, and the Availability of Recreational Facilities: a Rural-Urban Comparison in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults.

This study drew upon the ecological system theory to demonstrate rural-urban differences in the relationships between the availability of recreational facilities, physical activity (PA), functional health status, and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Nationally representative data (n= 5949) from the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2013) were examined using the multigroup structural equation modeling approach. The results suggest that higher availability of recreational facilities in the urban communities was associated with higher levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), better functional capacity, and less occurrence of depressive symptoms among urban participants. In contrast, LTPA engagement among rural participants was low and had negligible mitigating effects on functional decline and depressive symptoms. The findings also show that functional health status mediated the association between total PA and depressive symptoms in both rural and urban participants. However, high levels of total PA were directly associated with elevated depressive symptoms, suggesting that the context of PA and related socioeconomic factors might explain this association after the non-LTPA components were included. The findings highlight how complex patterns of intrapersonal, behavioral, and environmental correlates influence depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The context of PA should be considered when creating targeted strategies to prevent depressive symptoms. As an inactive lifestyle evolves with China's rapid urbanization, joint efforts from public health and urban planning should be made to promote LTPA and develop active living communities for achieving optimal health in later life.

Evolution of Spaces between Buildings in Polish Mass Housing Estates in the Eyes of the Inhabitants

The author investigates into the state of public and semi-public spaces in the Polish housing estates erected in the times of mass housing projects (1960 - 1980). The character of these estates is special. On the one hand, the buildings were accompanied by lavishly designed open spaces with elaborate material infrastructure: urban design followed the ideas that time – and strict regulations – that, in theory, prevented creation of substandard spaces. Provision of affordable housing was given a priority in the centrally controlled economy, so vast greenfield areas were devoted to housing. Moreover, the estates often stay under one management of housing cooperatives for years. The assets are relatively modern and usually conveniently located within the city/town infrastructure. This gives the areas advantage over contemporary housing schemes affected by constraints imposed by prior development and commercial approach to the provision of housing. On the other hand, technical wear and tear, functional obsolescence, years of underinvestment, natural demographic changes in local communities, changing ownership structure, and weakening social bonds make the large housing estates with their too lavishly designed public areas an ungrateful object of management.Recent availability of the European Union funds for modernization of public spaces increases the numbers of municipal projects and individual initiatives to activate communities by improving public and semi-public spaces. A question arises whether the money and effort is spent reasonably. Do people actually use the new facilities? Are they encouraged to affect the form and function of their surrounding? Does the public space change according to some passing fancies, or according to the changing needs?To juxtapose the development of technical condition of infrastructure and functions offered by the space between buildings with the expectations of users, the author repeatedly views the scene and conducts structured interviews with the inhabitants of the estates. The paper presents the results of two interdisciplinary surveys, held five years apart in the same estate, and based on the same questionnaire. Its results confirm that user expectations evolve. The interest in the development of green areas, and availability of recreational facilities in the proximity of home is growing as people observe that changes are possible. Some people declare some form of active participation in improvements. Preferences towards functions and accessibility of the areas reflect changes in the demographic structure. Surveys of this kind may be regularly used in defining guidelines for further improvement measures, and raising user awareness of the personal responsibility for the condition of the neighbourhood.

Exploring Pull Factors of Travel Motivation: An Exploratory Study in Sylhet Region

Bangladesh has a massive potential to flourish its tourism sector. As it have spectacular resources to present. This study analyzes the importance level of motivational pull factors that affect tourists’ decision when they chose a destination for tourism. 100 questionnaires were completed using face-to-face and telephone interview to collect pre and post-visit information. Data have gathered from the tourists who visited from outside of Sylhet and also from greater Sylhet Division by structured questionnaires. The study demonstrates that highest importance level gained by the availability of public toilet in the tourist spot (mean value 4.64). Gradual importance is attained from the elements- easily reached and cleanliness of the destination, pleasant and safe accommodation, personal security, prices of different products, availability of hygiene food and beverages, availability of recreation facilities, reasonable rent of accommodation, and shopping facility After examining the post visit opinion found some elements are treated the negative e.g. price of various products (food, drink, handicrafts, etc.), availability of public toilet, availability of different recreation facility (Water Park, sports facility, night life, etc.), and shopping facility. This study has an extensive implication for further research in tourism.

Associations between neighborhood effects and physical activity, obesity, and diabetes: The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of neighborhood disorder, perceived neighborhood safety, and availability of recreational facilities on prevalence of physical activity (PA), obesity, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Study Design and SettingMultilevel analyses were conducted among 2,848 respondents from the 2007–08 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey. Neighborhood effects were based on aggregated interviewer responses to systematic social observation questions. Mixed-effect logistic regression models were created to assess the relationship between neighborhood indicators and DM and the modifiable risk factors PA and overweight/obesity. ResultsThere was significant clustering in PA levels of 20 minutes at least once per week (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 10.7%), low/no PA (ICC = 7.22%), diabetes (ICC = 5.44%), and obesity (ICC = 3.33%) across neighborhoods. Greater levels of neighborhood disorder, home disorder, and counterintuitively recreational space availability were associated with higher levels of low/no PA among women. There was significant interaction by sex between neighborhood infrastructure and overweight/obesity with a significant association in men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05, 1.28) but not women (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.95, 1.07). ConclusionDifferences in PA and obesity-related outcomes among Jamaicans may be partially explained by characteristics of the neighborhood environment and differ by sex. Future studies must be conducted to determine the mechanistic pathways through which the neighborhood environment may impact such outcomes to better inform prevention efforts.

Objective measures of the built environment and physical activity in children: from walkability to moveability.

Features of the built environment that may influence physical activity (PA) levels are commonly captured using a so-called walkability index. Since such indices typically describe opportunities for walking in everyday life of adults, they might not be applicable to assess urban opportunities for PA in children. Particularly, the spatial availability of recreational facilities may have an impact on PA in children and should be additionally considered. We linked individual data of 400 2- to 9-year-old children recruited in the European IDEFICS study to geographic data of one German study region, based on individual network-dependent neighborhoods. Environmental features of the walkability concept and the availability of recreational facilities, i.e. playgrounds, green spaces, and parks, were measured. Relevant features were combined to a moveability index that should capture urban opportunities for PA in children. A gamma log-regression model was used to model linear and non-linear effects of individual variables on accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) stratified by pre-school children (<6 years) and school children (≥6 years). Single environmental features and the resulting indices were separately included into the model to investigate the effect of each variable on MVPA. In school children, commonly used features such as residential density [Formula: see text], intersection density [Formula: see text], and public transit density [Formula: see text] showed a positive effect on MVPA, while land use mix revealed a negative effect on MVPA [Formula: see text]. In particular, playground density [Formula: see text] and density of public open spaces, i.e., playgrounds and parks combined [Formula: see text], showed positive effects on MVPA. However, availability of green spaces showed no effect on MVPA. Different moveability indices were constructed based on the walkability index accounting for the negative impact of land use mix. Moveability indices showed also strong effects on MVPA in school children for both components, expanded by playground density [Formula: see text] or by public open space density [Formula: see text], but no effects of urban measures and moveability indices were found in pre-school children. The final moveability indices capture relevant opportunities for PA in school children. Particularly, availability of public open spaces seems to be a strong predictor of MVPA. Future studies involving children should consider quantitative assessment of public recreational facilities in larger cities or urban sprawls in order to investigate the influence of the moveability on childhood PA in a broader sample.

Economics of Obesity, Energy Intakes, and Physical Activity among Adults in Appalachia, USA

Many research outcomes highlight the use of behavioral changes to combat obesity. This study attempts to examine and discuss the potential use of physical activity and less energy intakes in mitigating obesity among the adults in Appalachia, USA. Within the context of utility theory and behavioral aspect of energy balances of an individual, a system of simultaneous equations with three endogenous variables; decision to reduce energy intakes, time engaged in physical activity and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used for the analysis. The results highlight the potentials of weight control by reducing energy intakes and engaging in more physical activity. Importantly, the results emphasize that elderly individuals are less likely to engage in physical activity and reduce energy intakes to control BMI at the same time. The individuals with high BMI values are more likely to reduce energy intakes than engage in physical activity. The male are more likely to engage in physical activity to control obesity than reducing energy intakes while the female are more likely to reduce energy intakes than engaging in physical activity. Higher income generation, job opportunities, service of health professionals, and availability of recreational facilities play a key role in changing behaviors for controlling obesity.

RETIREMENT VILLAGES AND RELATED CARE SERVICES: PERCEPTIONS, PREFERENCES AND NEEDS OF ELDERLY CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS IN CAPE TOWN

This article describes the findings of a study in the Cape Metropolitan Area and its fringe districts of the perceptions, preferences and needs of elderly persons and the views of housing providers for the elderly regarding retirement housing and related care services. Interviews were conducted with 228 sampled elderly persons in neighbourhoods with a high concentration of the elderly and in selected retirement villages in the study area. The views of experts on retirement housing and role players in the field of elderly care were elicited separately. The basic preferences of the elderly can be summarized as: renting residential units instead of buying them; no luxuries such as therapy services; safety considerations incorporated in the design of the interior of the units; being able to use their own furniture in the units; primary health care offered; availability of recreational facilities; good corporate management; and accessibility to essential general services (in terms of the location of the village). These findings are considered for consumers in different cultural and socio-economic groups and are also compared with the views of developers, housing providers and other role players. It is contended that - given the Government’s new policy on housing and care for the elderly - the findings may assist the providers of retirement housing and related care services to understand the diversity of needs of the South African mature retirement market and to provide facilities and services accordingly.