Do enhancements to the urban built environment improve physical activity levels among socially disadvantaged populations?

International Journal for Equity in Health

Ralph Maddison²  Jamie R Pearce¹ 

[1] Institute of Geography, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, UK;Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand

关键词: New Zealand;    health inequalities;    green space;    open space;    connectivity;    neighbourhoods;    Physical activity;   

Others  :  1146753
DOI  :  10.1186/1475-9276-10-28

 received in 2010-11-26, accepted in 2011-07-18,  发布年份 2011

【 摘 要 】

Background

There is growing recognition that the urban built environment influences physical activity at the population level, although the effects on disadvantaged groups are less well understood. Using the examples of open/green space and street connectivity, this paper explores whether enhancements to the built environment have potential for addressing physical activity-related health inequalities among Māori, Pacific and low income communities in New Zealand.

Method

A high-level review of the international literature relating open space and street connectivity to physical activity and/or related health outcomes at a population level was completed. Consideration was given to whether these features of the built environment have a disproportionate effect on disadvantaged populations.

Results

Findings from international studies suggest that open space and street connectivity have a beneficial effect on physical activity. Enhancing the built environment may be particularly advantageous for improving physical activity levels among disadvantaged populations.

Conclusion

It is likely that open space and street connectivity have a positive effect on physical activity behaviour; however due to the cross-sectional nature of existing research and the paucity of research among disadvantaged populations definitive conclusions about the effect in these populations cannot be made. Further research is required (e.g. natural experiments or quasi experimental research designs) to determine the effect of changing the environment on physical activity and obesity.

【 授权许可】

   
2011 Pearce and Maddison; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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