Recreational physical activity in natural environments and implications for health: A population based cross-sectional study in England

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

卷:91

Article

White, M. P.¹  Elliott, L. R.¹  Taylor, T.¹  Wheeler, B. W.¹  Spencer, A.^2,3  Depledge, M. H.¹  Fleming, L. E.¹ 

[1] Univ Exeter, European Ctr Environm & Human Hlth, Sch Med, Knowledge Spa Royal Cornwall Hosp, Treliske TR1 3HD, Cornwall, England

[2] Univ Exeter, Hlth Econ Grp, Sch Med, St Lukes Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, Devon, England

[3] Publ Hlth England, Environm Change Dept, 133-135 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UG, England

关键词: Physical activity;    Natural environments;    Quality adjusted life years;    England;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.023

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Background. Building on evidence that natural environments (e.g. parks, woodlands, beaches) are key locations for physical activity, we estimated the total annual amount of adult recreational physical activity in England's natural environments, and assessed implications for population health. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis of six waves (2009/10-2014/5) of the nationally representative, Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey (n = 280,790). The survey uses a weekly quota sample, and population weights, to estimate nature visit frequency across England, and provides details on a single, randomly selected visit (n = 112,422), including: a) duration; b) activity; and c) environment type. Results. Approximately 8.23 million (95% CIs: 7.93, 8.54) adults (19.5% of the population) made at least one 'active visit' (i.e. >= 30 min, >= 3 METs) to natural environments in the previous week, resulting in 1.23 billion (1.14, 1.32) 'active visits' annually. An estimated 3.20 million (3.05, 3.35) of these also reported meeting recommended physical activity guidelines (i.e. >= 5 x 30 min a week) fully, or in part, through such visits. Active visits by this group were associated with an estimated 109,164 (101,736, 116,592) Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) annually. Assuming the social value of a QALY to be 20,000 pound, the annual value of these visits was approximately 2.18 pound billion (2.03 pound, 2.33) pound. Results for walking were replicated using WHO's Health Economic Assessment Tool. Conclusions. Natural environments provide the context for a large proportion of England's recreational physical activity and highlight the need to protect and manage such environments for health purposes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free