Positive HABITATS for physical activity: Examining use of parks and its contribution to physical activity levels in mid-to older-aged adults

Hooper, Paula; Foster, Sarah; Edwards, Nicole; Turrell, Gavin; Burton, Nicola W.; Giles‐Corti, Billie; Brown, Wendy J.

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102308

Cited by 35 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 55 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…One of the most underrated types of physical activities is walking, even though it is the most common type of leisure-time or transportation physical activity among all population groups [ 9 , 10 ]. Researchers have found a wide array of health benefits of walking [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers have found a wide array of health benefits of walking [ 11 , 12 ]. Exposure to greenness may encourage more physical activity, such as walking [ 13 , 14 ], walking in green spaces (“green exercise”) accrue more health benefits, and have additional mental health benefits [ 10 , 15 ]. In principle, a healthy neighborhood design should integrate greenness and walkability as the foundation of the neighborhood’s morphology to promote green walking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Walkability and Greenness Do Not Walk Together: Investigating Associations between Greenness and Walkability in a Large Metropolitan City Context

Shuvo

Mazumdar

Labib

2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The existing environment literature separately emphasizes the importance of neighborhood walkability and greenness in enhancing health and wellbeing. Thus, a desirable neighborhood should ideally be green and walkable at the same time. Yet, limited research exists on the prevalence of such “sweet spot” neighborhoods. We sought to investigate this question in the context of a large metropolitan city (i.e., Sydney) in Australia. Methods: Using suburb level normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), percentage urban greenspace, Walk ScoreÒ (Walk Score, Seattle, USA), and other data, we explored the global and local relationships of neighborhood-level greenness, urban green space (percent park area) with walkability applying both non-spatial and spatial modeling. Results: We found an overall negative relationship between walkability and greenness (measured as NDVI). Most neighborhoods (represented by suburbs) in Sydney are either walkable or green, but not both. Sweet spot neighborhoods that did exist were green but only somewhat walkable. In addition, many neighborhoods were both less green and somewhat walkable. Moreover, we observed a significant positive relationship between percentage park area and walkability. These results indicate walkability and greenness have inverse and, at best, mixed associations in the Sydney metropolitan area. Conclusions: Our analysis indicates an overall negative relationship between greenness and walkability, with significant local variability. With ongoing efforts towards greening Sydney and improving walkability, more neighborhoods may eventually be transformed into becoming greener and more walkable.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Walkability and Greenness Do Not Walk Together: Investigating Associations between Greenness and Walkability in a Large Metropolitan City Context

Shuvo

Mazumdar

Labib

2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Increasingly, the role that size, type, quantity and quality of green spaces, perceived attractiveness and accessibility, and level of biodiversity play in promoting human health is being considered. The size of parks used has been shown to be positively associated with participation in physical activity, with users of larger parks being more likely to meet recommended activity levels [27]. Positive mental health has been associated with increased numbers of accessible parks and with parks with a variety of foci, such as recreation, sport and nature [28], while perceived biodiversity of green spaces has been found to be associated with better human health [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Dynamics of Green and Blue Spaces for Health and Wellbeing Outcomes in Ireland: A Systemic Stakeholder Perspective

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the recognised benefits to human health from green and blue spaces, socioeconomic inequalities in access to and use of such spaces have been observed. Using a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder systems approach and structural equation modelling, this paper examines the structural and behavioural dynamics of green and blue spaces, people and health and wellbeing outcomes. Systems thinking offers a deeper understanding of the dynamics of collective choices at all levels within the determinants and the circular causality of these processes. The resulting map shows that behavioural and structural dynamics of green and blue spaces reinforce social cohesion, mental and physical benefits and their circular causality. Acknowledging the importance of multiple uses of green and blue spaces, this paper concludes that delivering universal services at a scale and intensity proportionate to the degree of need is vital to ensure services and health and wellbeing benefits are available to all, not only the most advantaged.

show abstract

“…The annual economic cost of physical inactivity has been estimated as $53.8 billion, about 60% of which is borne by the public sector and 25% by households [24]. Strategies to address this preventable disease burden have included research to map limitations to engaging in physical activities across age groups and investments in infrastructure to increase physical activity at the population level [25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Our goal with the present study was to contribute to the national evidence base of best practices for incentivizing physical activity in urban populations that are experiencing disproportional burden of chronic diseases, with emphasis on public recreational parks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Placement of Outdoor Exercise Equipment and Physical Activity: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Two Parks in Southern California

Sami

Smith

Ogunseitan

2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To reduce the burden of chronic disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded the Orange County Partnerships to Improve Health (OC-PICH) project in Orange County, California. One of the strategies included adding outdoor exercise equipment (OEE) in two parks in Garden Grove and Anaheim. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, we evaluated park users’ physical activity levels before and after OEE installation using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). The OEE was installed along a walking path in Edison Park (Anaheim) and grouped within a single area (a “fitness zone”) in Garden Grove Park. In both parks, there were significantly greater odds of high-intensity physical activity overall after the installation—19% higher odds in Anaheim, and 23% higher odds in Garden Grove. However, the fitness zone area in Garden Grove had substantially higher odds of increased physical activity post-intervention (OR = 5.29, CI: 3.76–7.44, p < 0.001). While the increases in physical activity levels are consistent with past studies that link OEE to higher levels of physical activity among park users, our findings also suggest that the location and placement of equipment within a park may be an important factor to consider when improving park amenities for physical activity.

show abstract

Positive HABITATS for physical activity: Examining use of parks and its contribution to physical activity levels in mid-to older-aged adults

Cited by 35 publications

References 55 publications

Walkability and Greenness Do Not Walk Together: Investigating Associations between Greenness and Walkability in a Large Metropolitan City Context

Walkability and Greenness Do Not Walk Together: Investigating Associations between Greenness and Walkability in a Large Metropolitan City Context

Understanding the Dynamics of Green and Blue Spaces for Health and Wellbeing Outcomes in Ireland: A Systemic Stakeholder Perspective

Placement of Outdoor Exercise Equipment and Physical Activity: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Two Parks in Southern California

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About