The unbuilt environment: culture moderates the built environment for physical activity

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Eliana M. Perrin¹  Andrew J. Perrin²  Neal Caren²  Adebowale Odulana³  Asheley C. Skinner⁴ 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, 231 MacNider, CB#7225, 27599-7225, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina, CB#3210, 155 Hamilton Hall, 27599-3210, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Medical University of South Carolina, 165 Ashley Avenue, MSC 561, 29425, Charleston, SC, USA;The Duke Clinical Research Institute, 2400 Pratt Street, Office 8047, 27705, Durham, NC, USA;

关键词: Obesity;    Culture;    Built environment;    Physical activity;    Rural;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3866-3

 received in 2016-03-03, accepted in 2016-11-23,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWhile research has demonstrated a link between the built environment and obesity, much variation remains unexplained. Physical features are necessary, but not sufficient, for physical activity: residents must choose to use these features in health-promoting ways. This article reveals a role for local culture in tempering the effect of the physical environment on physical activity behaviors.MethodsWe developed Systematic Cultural Observation (SCO) to observe place-based, health-related culture in Lenoir County, NC (population ~60,000). Photographs (N = 6450) were taken systematically from 150 most-used road segments and geocoded. Coders assessed physical activity (PA) opportunities (e.g., public or private activity spaces, pedestrian-friendly features) and presence of people in each photograph.Results28.7% of photographs contained some PA feature. Most were private or pedestrian; 3.1% contained public PA space. Only 1.5% of photographs with any PA features (2% of those with public PA space, 0.7% of those with private) depicted people despite appropriate weather and daylight conditions.ConclusionsEven when PA opportunities existed in this rural county, they were rarely used. This may be the result of culture (“unbuilt environment”) that disfavors physical activity even in the presence of features that allow it. Policies promoting built environments designed for healthy lifestyles should consider local culture (shared styles, skills, habits, and beliefs) to maximize positive outcomes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016