Association of the built environment with physical activity and adiposity in rural and urban youth

Abstract

Objective To determine if: (1) differences exist for body mass index (BMI) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between rural and urban youth, and (2) perceived and objective measures of environmental supports for physical activity differentially correlate with BMI and MVPA in middle school rural and urban youth. Method Cross-sectional analyses were performed in spring 2012 on data collected from December 2008 until May 2010 for 284 middle school youth from a rural county and an adjacent urbanized area. Multivariable linear models estimated associations between BMI/MVPA and perceived environmental barriers/supports for physical activity and objectively measured neighborhood spatial variables. Results Mean MVPA was significantly lower for rural youth (15.9 minutes/day) compared to urban youth (19.2 minutes/day). No differences were observed between rural and urban youth for BMI or BMI percentile. Significant differences in both perceived and objective correlates for MVPA and BMI percentile were found in multivariable models between rural and urban youth. Conclusion Differences observed for correlates of MVPA and BMI across the settings suggest that rurality should be considered when identifying targets for intervention to promote MVPA and prevent adiposity in youth.

Rural Active Living: A Call to Action

“…In response to these findings, social cultural environmental factors such as crime, 21,68,69 safety, 70,71 social support 35,72,73 and physical environment supports for PA (e.g., sidewalks, parks, walking trails) 74 at the macro level have been considered in rural and urban settings independently, but few studies have compared across setting. 16,75,76 Access to facilities and equipment for PA is moderately associated with recreational PA and sports in urban youth 23,24,77 with few studies having confirmed these relationships in rural youth. 78-80 A review of studies examining environmental support for PA (most conducted in urban settings) determined that, as children grow, high PA was only observed in those with access to supervised PA programs and community-based sports.…”

“…78-80 A review of studies examining environmental support for PA (most conducted in urban settings) determined that, as children grow, high PA was only observed in those with access to supervised PA programs and community-based sports. 81 Similarly, access to high quality, user-friendly, supervised facilities, natural amenities, and age-appropriate programs was associated with higher levels of PA. 22,78,82,83 Unfortunately, very little research 15,75,84-87 has been conducted to compare correlates of PA among urban and rural youth.…”

“…The associations between sidewalks or traffic density and PA, which are consistently associated with PA in urban adults, were not consistently associated with PA in rural adults. 2 Taken together, rural residents are more likely to lack facilities and programs 17,95,96 and experience geographic isolation that can lead to reduced social support for PA. 75,76 A common theme observed in reviews of social and physical environments and PA in urban and rural settings is a continued reliance on subjective measures of PA and observational study designs. 15,24,26,77,97-99 Objective measures of social and physical environments for PA 28,100 are limited, particularly for rural areas.…”

Assessing environmental support for better health: Active living opportunity audits in rural communities in the southern United States

“…Health behavior is linked to socioeconomic and environmental aspects of where people live (Calise et al, 2013; Xu et al, 2013). Leisure-time physical activity in the United States (U.S.) is lower in rural settings (Martin et al, 2005; Michimi and Wimberly, 2010; Moore et al, 2013; Reis, et al, 2004), among minorities, women, and lower socioeconomic status individuals and communities (Cerin and Leslie, 2008; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014).…”

Built environment and physical activity in New Zealand adolescents: a protocol for a cross-sectional study

“…Nonetheless, latest research indicates that adolescents’ physical activity tends to occur close to their homes,35 42 and that strong associations exist between inactivity with lower neighbourhood walkability, amount of public open space and neighbourhood safety,43 as well as higher densities of cul-de-sac networks 36. MVPA is significantly lower for rural adolescents compared with those living in urban environments; however, these differences between neighbourhood type are not seen for body mass index (BMI) 44. Geospatial data indicate that adolescent girls engage in higher intensity physical activity in places with parks, schools and higher population density, and that they accumulate lower levels of physical activity in places with more roads and food outlets 32.…”