Built Environment and Physical Activity among Adults in Hong Kong: Role of Public Leisure Facilities and Street Centrality

Abstract

Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, and has been shown to be related to the built environment. To fill the literature gap from a non-Western setting, we examined: (1) the associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA) behaviors, (2) how the association of street centrality with PA is mediated by public leisure facilities, and (3) whether the association of the built environment with PA differs among people with different perceived PA barriers in Hong Kong. Cross-sectional survey data on 1977 adults were used. Exposure to the built environment was assessed in terms of the density of four types of public leisure facilities (gyms, parks, recreational facilities, and sports facilities) and street centrality. Street centrality was a composite index calculated by gathering four related indicators (reach, betweenness, straightness, and intersection density). Covariates, including socio-demographic variables, perceived neighborhood environment, and perceived PA barriers, were considered. Gym density was significantly associated with vigorous physical activity, but the association became non-significant after controlling for covariates. Sports facility density was associated with a greater probability of moderate physical activity (MPA) and was greater in those who had perceived PA barriers. Additionally, sports facilities partially mediated the association of street centrality with MPA, and fully mediated the association of street centrality with prolonged sitting. Higher park density was associated with lower odds of prolonged sitting. It is important for governments to provide more sports facilities and parks to promote active PA, and to reduce sitting time in adults by creating an active built environment.

The Effects of Public Open Space on Older People’s Well-Being: From Neighborhood Social Cohesion to Place Dependence

“…A study in Hong Kong indicates that 75% of recreational walking of older people takes place in POS within the neighborhood, with 42% occurring in parks and 32% occurring on the street [ 47 , 48 ]. Living near urban parks is associated with less likelihood of sedentary behaviors [ 49 ]. Older people perceive POS as places for play and recreation, such as stretching and exercise [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Health-Risk Behaviors among Chinese Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The results showed that a very high proportion of participants (94%) did not meet the WHO's adult physical activity recommendations of at least 75 min per week of vigorous-intensity or 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity [11]. Although it is well documented that many Hong Kong adults have more sedentary lifestyles than their Western counterparts [12], caution must be taken in interpreting the results. First, data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when wearing a mask was mandatory in all public areas.…”

Public Rental Housing and Obesogenic Behaviors among Adults in Hong Kong: Mediator Role of Food and Physical Activity Environment

“…Data on sports facilities were collected from the Leisure and Cultural Service Department, Hong Kong ( (accessed on 12 December 2021). Sports facilities were defined as sports center, recreation grounds, water sports centers, swimming pools, or sports grounds [ 26 ]. We did not use individually listed sports facilities because they are provided by relevant place.…”

“…Specific to obesity-related environmental intervention research, the improvement of food and physical activity environments has been proven to contribute to healthier eating and physical activity behaviors by a large number of studies [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Sports facility density was found to be related to physical activity behavior, and greenery correlated with sedentary behavior [ 26 , 27 ]. The local retail food environment was also found to be related with dietary behaviors in Hong Kong by one of our former studies [ 28 ].…”

“…The local retail food environment was also found to be related with dietary behaviors in Hong Kong by one of our former studies [ 28 ]. Therefore, the food and physical activity environment in terms of the relative density of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores compared to grocery stores, sports facility density, and street greenery were included in this study [ 26 , 28 ].…”