Urban environment interventions linked to the promotion of physical activity: A mixed methods study applied to the urban context of Latin America

Abstract

This study summarizes the evidence from quantitative systematic reviews that assessed the association between urban environment attributes and physical activity. It also documents sociopolitical barriers and facilitators involved in urban interventions linked with active living in the ten most populated urban settings of Latin America. The synthesis of evidence indicates that several attributes of urban environments are associated with physical activity, including land-use mix and cycling infrastructure. The documentary analysis indicated that despite the benefits and opportunities provided by the programs and existing infrastructure in the examined cities, an overall concern is the rising inequality in the coverage and distribution of the initiatives in the region. If these programs and initiatives are to achieve a real population level effect that helps to reduce health disparities, they need to examine their social and spatial distribution within the cities so they can reach underserved populations and develop to their full potential.

Programa Academias da Saúde e a promoção da atividade física na cidade: a experiência de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil

“…The density and proximity of sports and leisure equipment 9 , as well as a better evaluation of the environment 10 have already been associated with physical activity. However, the distribution of these facilitators is an important social-spatial segregation factor 11 , especially, within the context of Latin America 12 .…”

Prevention of childhood obesity and food policies in Latin America: from research to practice

“…The successful spread of Ciclovías is due to their popularity among the public at large based on the strong perception that they improve quality of life, resulting in strong political support from city mayors, and scientific advances in understanding the relationship between urban planning and public health . It is clear that the way Ciclovías have been designed has been different across cities according to urban design and political considerations . The introduction of Ciclovías has been met with some resistance from businesses and other sectors including transportation enterprises that were affected by the road closures .…”

“…It is clear that the way Ciclovías have been designed has been different across cities according to urban design and political considerations . The introduction of Ciclovías has been met with some resistance from businesses and other sectors including transportation enterprises that were affected by the road closures . These challenges have been overcome in most instances with strong participation from civil society, highlighting new economic development opportunities for small business owners, and by having evidence‐based recommended practices for deploying Ciclovías .…”

Social conditions and urban environment associated with participation in the Ciclovia program among adults from Cali, Colombia

“…The promotion of physical activity is recognized as an integrated component of several healthy public policies that are undertaken in urban settings 1 . From the various domains of physical activity, leisure time physical activity is especially important in public health, due not only to its benefits in preventing non communicable disease but also for being consistently linked with health related quality of life 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 .…”