Supportive Environments For Physical Activity Research Articles

Priority populations’ experiences of the accessibility and inclusion of recreation centres: a qualitative study

BackgroundAlthough the health benefits of physical activity are well documented, certain priority populations are often disproportionately insufficiently active and at higher risk of poor health. Recreation centres have the potential to provide accessible and supportive environments for physical activity for all. However, little is known about priority populations’ experiences of these venues and their views of how accessibility and inclusion can be optimised. This study aimed to gain in-depth insights of recreation centre experiences and potential strategies for improving inclusion and accessibility amongst priority populations (women, older adults, ethnic minorities, persons living with disabilities/additional needs, individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+, low socio-economic position).MethodsThis qualitative study (2021–2022) involved 18 semi-structured individual interviews with adult priority population users of recreation centres (50% 65 + years, 61.2% female) in one Melbourne municipality. Participants were asked to discuss their positive and negative experiences at the centres and to identify strategies for enhancing accessibility and inclusion. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed for data analysis.ResultsWhile many participants had positive views of the facilities and programs at the centres, as they met their needs, they also had suggestions for improving accessibility and inclusion. Similarly, most participants were happy with the communications, felt included, and perceived the culture positively. Those who did not feel included at the centres offered many potential strategies for changing the culture, modifying communications (e.g., signage), and establishing partnerships for better access and inclusion.ConclusionsThe present study adds to essential knowledge concerning priority populations’ experiences of recreation centres. For recreation facilities that were generally perceived as having positive inclusion and accessibility, the findings nonetheless highlighted suggestions for further enhancement. These strategies may be useful more broadly for improving accessibility and inclusion, thereby promoting physical activity and ultimately health for all.

A School-Level Examination of the Association between Programs and Policies and Physical Activity Outcomes among Females from the COMPASS Study.

(1) The majority of Canadian youth are not meeting physical activity guidelines, and more female than male youth are falling short of these recommendations. School programs and policies are a viable strategy to improve youth physical activity. However, they may differentially affect female and male activity. This study aimed to examine school-level differences in physical activity outcomes among male and female students and to explore how school programs and policies associate with school-level physical activity outcomes among females. (2) This study used data from 136 schools participating in year 7 (Y7 2018–2019) of the COMPASS study. Data on school programs and policies and on student physical activity were collected. School-level means and percentages for outcomes were calculated and compared between males and females and the impact of physical activity programs and policies on female physical activity outcomes were examined. (3) More males met the guidelines, achieved more strength training days and physical activity minutes compared to females. The number of female varsity sports, community partnerships and fitness ambassadors were all positively and significantly associated with female physical activity. (4) Supportive physical activity environments fostered by offering varsity sports, establishing community partnerships and positive role models may promote physical activity among female youth.

Relationship between primary school healthy eating and physical activity promoting environments and children’s dietary intake, physical activity and weight status: a longitudinal study in the West Midlands, UK

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the association between food and physical activity environments in primary schools and child anthropometric, healthy eating and physical activity measures.DesignObservational longitudinal study using data from a...

Codesigning Parks for Increasing Park Visits and Physical Activity in a Low-Socioeconomic Community: The Active By Community Design Experience.

The purpose of the Active By Community Design (ABCD) project was to engage residents in the redesign of two public open spaces to increase park visits and park-based physical activity (PBPA). It was anticipated that by adding local preferences to park design considerations along with collected data and available evidence, the study would achieve increased levels of community engagement and subsequent increases in park visits and PBPA. This study summarizes two case studies outlining the community engagement and research translation process. Utilizing a pre-post evaluation design, baseline measures were completed with a series of validated tools for park use and park quality. Baseline data, evidence, community and stakeholder input were synthesized and presented to a "design subcommittee" to translate into "real-world" park redesigns. Park audits, a household survey, and park open days identified the spaces were not designed for the activities residents wanted, while park observations identified usage was low, and those observed were mostly children and adults walking. Park redesigns focused on maximizing access, infrastructure to enable physical activity (PA), PA programs and enhancements to improve aesthetics and safety concerns. The ABCD project successfully demonstrated a process of combining data and community and stakeholder engagement input to translate evidence into the creation of more supportive environments for PA. Stakeholder and resident input to the redesign processes contributed to satisfaction and ownership that residents reported on the redesigned parks, which may increase the likelihood of increased park usage and park-based physical activity.

Differences in social and physical dimensions of perceived walkability in Mexican American and non-hispanic white walking environments in Tucson, Arizona

IntroductionPhysical activity patterns within the U.S. vary greatly across ethnicity, with data generally indicating lower rates among Hispanic/Latino adults. At the same time, Hispanic/Latino pedestrians face higher rates of injury and fatalities. Despite the importance of supportive physical activity environments on both health and safety outcomes, limited attention has been paid to ethnic or cultural differences in perceptions of supportive environments for walking. To fill this gap, we explore differences in physical and social environment contributors to perceived walkability between pedestrians in predominantly (>70%) Mexican American and predominantly non-Hispanic white areas in Tucson, Arizona. MethodsIn early 2017 the research team conducted brief on-street intercept interviews with pedestrians (N = 190) to learn about the environmental attributes associated with pedestrian perceptions of walkability. Study locations were matched for similar physical walkability metrics, income, and poverty rates. Consensus-based thematic coding identified 14 attributes of the built and social environment that contributed, positively and negatively, to perceptions of walkability. ResultsAttributes of the social environment, both positive (i.e., social interaction, social cohesion, and community identity) and negative (i.e., crime/security), were more frequently expressed as components of walkability in Mexican American study areas while physical environment attributes (i.e., infrastructure, street crossings, and aesthetics) were more frequently mentioned in non-Hispanic white areas. ConclusionsContributors to perceived walkability in non-Hispanic white study areas were largely consistent with existing built environment-focused walkability metrics. Differences seen in Mexican American areas suggest a need to better understand differences across populations, expand the construct of walkability to consider social environment attributes, and account for interactions between social and physical environments. Results highlight the need for collaboration between public health and planning professionals, to evaluate walkability using culturally relevant measures that account for the social environment, particularly in Mexican American and other communities of color.

Neighborhood Disadvantage and Physical Function: The Contributions of Neighborhood-Level Perceptions of Safety From Crime and Walking for Recreation.

Residents of more socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to report poorer physical function, although the reasons for this remain unknown. It is possible that neighborhood-level perceptions of safety from crime contribute to this relationship through its association with walking for recreation. Data were obtained from the fourth wave (collected in 2013) of the HABITAT (How Areas in Brisbane Influence HealTh and AcTivity) multilevel longitudinal study of middle- to older-aged adults (46-74y) residing in 200 neighborhoods in Brisbane, Australia. The data were analyzed separately for men (n = 2190) and women (n = 2977) using multilevel models. Residents of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods had poorer physical function, perceived their neighborhoods to be less safe from crime, and do less walking for recreation. These factors accounted for differences in physical function between disadvantaged and advantaged neighborhoods (24% for men and 25% for women). This study highlights the importance of contextual characteristics, through their associations with behaviors, that can have in explaining the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and physical function. Interventions aimed at improving neighborhood safety integrated with supportive environments for physical activity may have positive impact on physical function among all socioeconomic groups.

Supportive environments for physical activity in deprived communities in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study using photo elicitation

The health benefits of regular physical activity are substantial and well-established. However, population activity levels are insufficient to obtain health benefits in the United Kingdom (UK), and strategies to increase activity, particularly in income-deprived communities, are sought. Socioecological models of physical activity posit that activity levels are influenced by social, physical and wider environmental factors. In line with a growing evidence base, there is a need to understand the factors that contribute to an activity-supportive neighbourhood within deprived settings within the UK. This study used photo-elicitation qualitative interviews to explore environmental facilitators and barriers to neighbourhood-based, outdoor physical activity in 23 adults living in two income-deprived neighbourhoods in Glasgow, UK. Data were collected between June and October 2015, and were explored using thematic analysis.Five themes were identified: ‘diversity of destinations in the neighbourhood’, ‘provision of services to support healthy environments’, ‘ownership of public space and facilities to encourage physical activity’, ‘collective control of public space to prevent disorder’ and ‘perceived value of the neighbourhood’. Findings highlighted the close interaction between these themes and more broadly between social and physical facets of neighbourhood environments that were unsupportive of physical activity. Discourse about economic aspects was pervasive and emerged as deeply affecting characteristics of the social and physical environment and upstream influences on physical activity. This study supports evidence that multi-faceted interventions addressing aspects of the social, physical and economic environment may be needed to support outdoor physical activity in deprived communities.

Canadian policy perspectives on promoting physical activity across age-friendly communities: lessons for advocacy and action

ABSTRACTPopulation ageing combined with physical inactivity has critical implications for the public health of communities in the twenty-first century. In the last decade, the World Health Organization launched the age-friendly cities agenda, aiming to address population ageing through whole-systems, rights-based, health equity-focused approaches. An important intervention for age-friendly communities is modifying built environments to support population-level physical activity. Physical activity can help mitigate impacts of chronic diseases and social isolation on older adults. Need for advocacy and action in this area raises questions of how to develop supportive environments for physical activity across age-friendly community types. In Canada, a substantial proportion of older adults live outside large urban municipalities, for which scant research exists on fostering age-friendly built environments. To this end, we conducted qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with 21 municipal policy influencers in Alberta, Canada to gather perspectives on development and early implementation of an age-friendly policy framework in the small urban and rural context. Our findings are organised by three main themes providing key lessons for advocacy and action, namelypursuing comprehensive planning,promoting public engagementandprioritising the needs of older adults. This research informs advocacy and action priorities in promoting built environment modification for routine physical activity as part of an age-friendliness agenda for small urban and rural regions of Canada and other countries.

Supportive Environments for Physical Activity, Community Action, and Policy in 8 European Union Member States: Comparative Analysis and Specificities of Context

A multilevel theoretical framework of physical activity (PA) promotion that addresses supportive environments, PA behavior, community action, and PA promoting policies is related to research and development in an international comparative study. Most-different and most-similar case selection was applied to data from 8 European Union Member States. Data from semistructured key informant qualitative interviews, focus group interviews with experts and policy-makers, as well as document analysis were linked to corresponding Eurobarometer data. The framework on the interplay of environment, PA behavior, community action and policies appears to be working across most different countries. Comprehensive systems of PA infrastructures are interlinked with relatively high levels of PA prevalence. These countries implement comprehensive national policies on PA promotion and show a positive perception of related local governments' engagement. Less comprehensive systems of infrastructures interplay with lower levels of PA prevalence, less community action and fewer policies. Differences between similar cases are linked to country-specific contexts. Framework application and comparative analysis indicates how to relate theory to empirical research and complex data sets. In-depth analysis of country-specific contexts and longitudinal observation on changes within and between countries might advise on how to integrate the framework into intervention research.

Perceived Environmental Physical Activity Correlates Among Asian Pacific Islander Americans

Little is known about correlates of physical activity of Asian and Asian-Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI). Knowledge of these correlates could be useful in promoting physical activity. to identify demographic and environmental correlates of physical activity among AAPI. Participants resided in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, and completed a 52-item telephone administered questionnaire that assessed physical activity behavior, environmental supports for physical activity and demographic factors. Environmental factors included the presence of neighborhood sidewalks, park availability, and nearby grocery stores were combined to create the variable "environmental physical activity supports" (EPAS). Neighborhood crime, pleasantness of the neighborhood for walking, and the presence of loose dogs combined to form "neighborhood safety." Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of physical activity. Potential predictors included age, gender, BMI, employment, educational attainment, neighborhood safety, and EPAS. 263 respondents completed the survey. With the exception of living near a grocery store, respondents reported residing in neighborhoods that are generally supportive of physical activity. However, EPAS was the sole significant predictor of physical activity behavior (OR = 1.52, CI = 1.06-2.17). Age and educational attainment unexpectedly failed to predict physical activity. Supportive physical activity environments associate with physical activity behavior among AAPI.

Policy change to create supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating: which options are the most realistic for local government?

The objective is to identify and test regulatory options for creating supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating among local governments in Victoria, Australia. A literature review identified nine potential areas for policy intervention at local government level, including the walking environment and food policy. Discussion documents were drafted which summarized the public health evidence and legal framework for change in each area. Levels of support for particular interventions were identified through semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants from local government. We conducted 11 key informant interviews and found support for policy intervention to create environments supportive of physical activity but little support for policy changes to promote healthy eating. Participants reported lack of relevance and competing priorities as reasons for not supporting particular interventions. Promoting healthy eating environments was not considered a priority for local government above food safety. There is a real opportunity for action to prevent obesity at local government level (e.g. mandate the promotion of healthy eating environments). For local government to have a role in the promotion of healthy food environments, regulatory change and suitable funding are required.

State government and the creation of supportive environments for physical activity—A Queensland perspective

State government and the creation of supportive environments for physical activity—A Queensland perspective

Supportive environments for physical activity: A survey of local government in Queensland

Local government is ideally placed to create community environments that support physical activity. We investigated the current roles and perceptions of local government in Queensland about physical activity, together with their needs. Self-administered surveys were completed by 27 councils in Queensland. Most councils (85%) are ready or are investing in physical activity. Some 67% of councils report physical activity as a moderate or high priority and 74% believe that constituents would like councils to invest in it.

Working with the property development sector—Integrating active living principles into the planning and design process

Introduction: Research and policy work around creating supportive environments for physical activity has been occurring for over a decade. The Heart Foundation has produced a number of guidelines and tools, including the widely used “Healthy By Design”; a planner's guide to environments for active living, to suggest practical ways to influence the built environment to become more supportive of physical activity and social connection. There is growing recognition of the influence and impact of the development industry on urban design and the potential for it to be an important agent of change in to the creation of active living environments.

A local government resource to create supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating

A local government resource to create supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating

The Physical Activity Climate in Minnesota Middle and High Schools

This article describes policies, practices, and facilities that form the physical activity climate in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota metro area middle and high schools and examines how the physical activity climate varies by school characteristics, including public/private, school location and grade level. Surveys examining school physical activity practices, policies and environment were administered to principals and physical education department heads from 115 middle and high schools participating in the Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer-Identifying Determinants of Eating and Activity (TREC-IDEA) study. While some supportive practices were highly prevalent in the schools studied (such as prohibiting substitution of other classes for physical education); other practices were less common (such as providing opportunity for intramural (noncompetitive) sports). Public schools vs. private schools and schools with a larger school enrollment were more likely to have a school climate supportive of physical activity. Although schools reported elements of positive physical activity climates, discrepancies exist by school characteristics. Of note, public schools were more than twice as likely as private schools to have supportive physical activity environments. Establishing more consistent physical activity expectations and funding at the state and national level is necessary to increase regular school physical activity.

When two sides go to war: newspaper reporting of ‘television food advertising restrictions’ as a solution to childhood obesity

Childhood overweight and obesity is a major public health problem in Australia and overseas. Food advertising during children's television programmes has been identified as one contributing factor to childhood obesity. The media plays an important role in informing the public and presenting arguments supporting and opposing solutions to childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to analyse newspaper coverage of the debate over restricting television food advertising as a solution to preventing childhood obesity. A newspaper search was conducted over the period July 2002 to July 2005. One hundred and sixty-six articles were analysed for article characteristics, speakers quoted, causes and solutions of childhood obesity and arguments presented. The majority of the articles (82, 49%) took a positive slant towards restricting television food advertising to children while 35 (21%) had a negative slant. The main causes of childhood obesity presented were: television advertising of unhealthy foods, lack of physical activity, increased screen time and time stretched parents. The main areas presented as solutions of childhood obesity were: policy changes to food advertising, supportive environments for physical activity, supportive environments for healthy eating and healthy eating policies. Strong arguments and strong language dominated the debate which remained polarised between health professionals and Federal government and industry. In spite of opposition towards restrictions on television food advertising to children, the media's stories played an important part in keeping the issue on the public and political agenda.

Promoting Physically Active Environments Through Community Design

1359 Interdisciplinary collaboration between public health and urban planning professionals is essential for promoting supportive environments for physical activity. Although micro-level environmental correlates of physical activity have been identified, the role of local policies that shape urban form and mobility choices remains uncertain. PURPOSE: This study examined whether local land use plans consider the reciprocal relationship between land development and transportation, including non-motorized transportation improvements (NMTI). We hypothesized that communities which explicitly link land development policies with transportation infrastructure investments will be more likely to include NMTI in land use plans. METHODS: Planning officials in North Carolina (NC) counties and municipalities were surveyed by mail regarding the characteristics of land use and transportation plans, and related land-management tools. Reported transportation improvements were grouped into five domains: 1) no improvements, 2) road improvements, 3) NMTI (sidewalks, bike paths, greenways, and pedestrian ways), 4) transit, and 5) safety. To operationalize the connection between land use and transportation, planners were asked whether their land use plans account for the reciprocal relationships between a) land development impacts created by transportation improvements, and b) transportation impacts of land development. Localities were matched with area characteristics from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Population Census. RESULTS: Responses were received from 79 counties and 47 cities (response rate = 77%). Overall, 85% of respondents reported having land use plans; 68% included transportation improvements. Road improvements were the most frequently reported domain (62%), followed by NMTI (45%), transit (23%) and safety (19%). The presence of NMTI was greater in cities (61%) compared to counties (33%) (p<.01). Respondents from faster growing regions were twice as likely to account for NMTI compared to other regions (p<.01). Land use plans that considered the transportation impacts of land development were more likely to include NMTI (57%), compared to plans that did not (27%) (p<.01). Similarly, plans that considered the land use impacts of planned transportation improvements were more likely to include NMTI (53%), compared to those that did not (29%) (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In NC, land use plans that consider the reciprocal relationship between land development and transportation were more likely to include NMTI. Future research should link planning data with physical activity surveillance data in order to evaluate associations between NMTI and behavior.

Promoting Physically Active Environments Through Community Design

1359 Interdisciplinary collaboration between public health and urban planning professionals is essential for promoting supportive environments for physical activity. Although micro-level environmental correlates of physical activity have been identified, the role of local policies that shape urban form and mobility choices remains uncertain. PURPOSE: This study examined whether local land use plans consider the reciprocal relationship between land development and transportation, including non-motorized transportation improvements (NMTI). We hypothesized that communities which explicitly link land development policies with transportation infrastructure investments will be more likely to include NMTI in land use plans. METHODS: Planning officials in North Carolina (NC) counties and municipalities were surveyed by mail regarding the characteristics of land use and transportation plans, and related land-management tools. Reported transportation improvements were grouped into five domains: 1) no improvements, 2) road improvements, 3) NMTI (sidewalks, bike paths, greenways, and pedestrian ways), 4) transit, and 5) safety. To operationalize the connection between land use and transportation, planners were asked whether their land use plans account for the reciprocal relationships between a) land development impacts created by transportation improvements, and b) transportation impacts of land development. Localities were matched with area characteristics from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Population Census. RESULTS: Responses were received from 79 counties and 47 cities (response rate = 77%). Overall, 85% of respondents reported having land use plans; 68% included transportation improvements. Road improvements were the most frequently reported domain (62%), followed by NMTI (45%), transit (23%) and safety (19%). The presence of NMTI was greater in cities (61%) compared to counties (33%) (p<.01). Respondents from faster growing regions were twice as likely to account for NMTI compared to other regions (p<.01). Land use plans that considered the transportation impacts of land development were more likely to include NMTI (57%), compared to plans that did not (27%) (p<.01). Similarly, plans that considered the land use impacts of planned transportation improvements were more likely to include NMTI (53%), compared to those that did not (29%) (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In NC, land use plans that consider the reciprocal relationship between land development and transportation were more likely to include NMTI. Future research should link planning data with physical activity surveillance data in order to evaluate associations between NMTI and behavior.

Supportive environments for physical activity and the local government agenda: a South Australian example.

In the promotion of moderate physical activity it is increasingly argued that a supportive physical environment is a key factor, and that local government is ideally placed to play an important role. This study reports on the factors that led one local government to take such a leading role. A semi-structured interview was conducted to find out why a chief executive officer of a local government decided that the creation of supportive environments for physical activity was the core business of council. The results show that key ingredients were that local government should take a strategic rather than an operational focus on the issue, that there should be open organisational structures to allow the various functions of local government to work together, and that there must be appropriate leadership. The findings suggest ways for engaging local government as a key partner in promoting supportive environments that are consistent with literature on policy, organisational structure and leadership theory.