The impact of interventions to promote physical activity in urban green space: A systematic review and recommendations for future research

Abstract

Evidence is mounting on the association between the built environment and physical activity (PA) with a call for intervention research. A broader approach which recognizes the role of supportive environments that can make healthy choices easier is required. A systematic review was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of interventions to encourage PA in urban green space. Five databases were searched independently by two reviewers using search terms relating to 'physical activity', 'urban green space' and 'intervention' in July 2014. Eligibility criteria included: (i) intervention to encourage PA in urban green space which involved either a physical change to the urban green space or a PA intervention to promote use of urban green space or a combination of both; and (ii) primary outcome of PA. Of the 2405 studies identified, 12 were included. There was some evidence (4/9 studies showed positive effect) to support built environment only interventions for encouraging use and increasing PA in urban green space. There was more promising evidence (3/3 studies showed positive effect) to support PAprograms or PA programs combined with a physical change to the built environment, for increasing urban green space use and PA of users. Recommendations for future research include the need for longer term follow-up post-intervention, adequate control groups, sufficiently powered studies, and consideration of the social environment, which was identified as a significantly under-utilized resource in this area. Interventions that involve the use of PA programs combined with a physical change to the built environment are likely to have a positive effect on PA. Robust evaluations of such interventions are urgently required. The findings provide a platform to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of future urban green space and PAintervention research.

Exploring the relationship between childhood obesity and proximity to the coast: A rural/urban perspective

“…As with urban greenspace (Hunter et al, 2015), interventions such as improved transport links, paths and other physical access features, informational resources and signage, local social interventions supporting and encouraging access, and improved quality, coastal path in urban locations being planned and constructed in England (e.g. Teeside and Portsmouth, Natural England, 2016), and with the Wales Coast Path already complete (Welsh Government, 2016).…”

Blue space geographies: Enabling health in place

“…Exposure to green space has been identified as a factor reducing health inequalities in the UK (Mitchell and Popham, 2007). Physical activity within green spaces has been investigated as a possible mechanism behind the relationship between access to green space and salutogenic effects (Maas et al, 2006(Maas et al, , 2008Macintyre et al, 2008;Coombes et al, 2010;Koohsari et al, 2015;Hunter et al, 2015;Buck et al, 2015). In contrast, outside of environmental psychology, the health-related value of blue space and the role of physical activity within blue spaces have attracted much less attention to date (Herzog, 1984).…”

Disability income support design and mental illnesses: a review of Australia and Ontario

“…This finding is significant because most systematic reviews do not include grey literature in their search strategy (e.g. see reviews by Gallacher et al 13 , De Pinho Campos et al 32 and Hunter et al 33 ). Systematic reviews relating to policy making may fail to identify important evidence if they do not extend beyond database searching 34 , because evidence in the social sciences, social policy and case law may not be indexed in searchable electronic databases.…”