IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i4p1131-d319016.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Gavin R. McCormack

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Levi Frehlich

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Anita Blackstaffe

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Tanvir C. Turin

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Patricia K. Doyle-Baker

    (Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

There are many health benefits of regular physical activity and improving physical fitness levels can reduce the risk of chronic disease. Accumulating evidence suggests the neighborhood built environment is important for supporting physical activity; however, few studies have investigated the contribution of the neighborhood built environment to fitness levels. We examined the associations between objectively-determined and self-reported neighborhood walkability and overall and specific components of perceived health-related fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular strength, and flexibility) in a random sample of 592 adults from two areas of Calgary (Canada). Participants provided complete data to an online questionnaire capturing perceived cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength (MST), flexibility, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), resistance training, and sociodemographic characteristics. The questionnaire also captured participant’s perceptions of their neighborhood’s walkability (Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale; PANES) and the physical activity supportiveness of neighborhood parks (Park Perceptions Index; PPI). Objectively-measured neighborhood walkability was estimated using Walk Score ® . The average (SD) age of participants was 46.6 (14.8) years and 67.2% were female. Participants, on average, participated in at least 30-minutes of MVPA on 3.4 (2.1) days/week and undertook resistance training 2.0 (1.8) days/week. Adjusting for covariates, Walk Score ® was not associated with any fitness outcomes. Adjusting for covariates, the PANES index was positively associated ( p < 0.05) with CRF, MST, flexibility, and overall fitness and the PPI was positively associated ( p < 0.05) with all fitness outcomes except MST. Our findings provide novel preliminary evidence suggesting the neighborhood built environment may be important for supporting higher health-related fitness levels in adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Gavin R. McCormack & Levi Frehlich & Anita Blackstaffe & Tanvir C. Turin & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker, 2020. "Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1131-:d:319016
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1131/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1131/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grazia Salvo & Bonnie M. Lashewicz & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker & Gavin R. McCormack, 2018. "Neighbourhood Built Environment Influences on Physical Activity among Adults: A Systematized Review of Qualitative Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Ferdinand, A.O. & Sen, B. & Rahurkar, S. & Engler, S. & Menachemi, N., 2012. "The relationship between built environments and physical activity: A systematic review," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(10), pages 7-13.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Prasad PATHAK & Anup TRIPATHI & Aparna SHANKAR, 2021. "Smart Streets And Smart City €“ A Case Study Of Pune’S Iti Road," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 16(4), pages 20-33, November.
    2. Bruno Jardim & Miguel de Castro Neto, 2022. "Walkability Indicators in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke & Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez & Francisca Parra Huerta & Rodrigo Mora, 2022. "The Disabling City: Older Persons Walking in Central Neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Fernando Fonseca & Escolástica Fernandes & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Walkable Cities: Using the Smart Pedestrian Net Method for Evaluating a Pedestrian Network in Guimarães, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Gomez, Luis F. & Sarmiento, Rodrigo & Ordoñez, Maria Fernanda & Pardo, Carlos Felipe & de Sá, Thiago Hérick & Mallarino, Christina H. & Miranda, J. Jaime & Mosquera, Janeth & Parra, Diana C. & Reis, R, 2015. "Urban environment interventions linked to the promotion of physical activity: A mixed methods study applied to the urban context of Latin America," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 18-30.
    4. Ullmann, S. Heidi & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R., 2013. "Contextual factors and weight change over time: A comparison between U.S. Hispanics and other population sub-groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 40-48.
    5. Hyungun Sung & Sugie Lee & Sungwon Jung, 2014. "Identifying the Relationship between the Objectively Measured Built Environment and Walking Activity in the High-Density and Transit-Oriented City, Seoul, Korea," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 41(4), pages 637-660, August.
    6. Pengxiang Zhao & Mei-Po Kwan & Suhong Zhou, 2018. "The Uncertain Geographic Context Problem in the Analysis of the Relationships between Obesity and the Built Environment in Guangzhou," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Megumi Nishida & Masamichi Hanazato & Chie Koga & Katsunori Kondo, 2021. "Association between Proximity of the Elementary School and Depression in Japanese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from the JAGES 2016 Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Hei Gao & Zike Xu & Yu Chen & Yutian Lu & Jian Lin, 2022. "Walking Environment and Obesity: A Gender-Specific Association Study in Shanghai," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Boulange, Claire & Pettit, Chris & Gunn, Lucy Dubrelle & Giles-Corti, Billie & Badland, Hannah, 2018. "Improving planning analysis and decision making: The development and application of a Walkability Planning Support System," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 129-137.
    10. Alex Antonio Florindo & Ligia Vizeu Barrozo & William Cabral-Miranda & Eduardo Quieroti Rodrigues & Gavin Turrell & Moisés Goldbaum & Chester Luiz Galvão Cesar & Billie Giles-Corti, 2017. "Public Open Spaces and Leisure-Time Walking in Brazilian Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, May.
    11. Sadegh Fathi & Hassan Sajadzadeh & Faezeh Mohammadi Sheshkal & Farshid Aram & Gergo Pinter & Imre Felde & Amir Mosavi, 2020. "The Role of Urban Morphology Design on Enhancing Physical Activity and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-29, March.
    12. Xue Zhang & Mildred E. Warner, 2023. "Linking Urban Planning, Community Environment, and Physical Activity: A Socio-Ecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Bancroft, Carolyn & Joshi, Spruha & Rundle, Andrew & Hutson, Malo & Chong, Catherine & Weiss, Christopher C. & Genkinger, Jeanine & Neckerman, Kathryn & Lovasi, Gina, 2015. "Association of proximity and density of parks and objectively measured physical activity in the United States: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 22-30.
    14. Nadine Schuurman & Leah Rosenkrantz & Scott A. Lear, 2021. "Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, June.
    15. Gavin R. McCormack & Anita Blackstaffe & Alberto Nettel-Aguirre & Ilona Csizmadi & Beverly Sandalack & Francisco Alaniz Uribe & Afrah Rayes & Christine Friedenreich & Melissa L. Potestio, 2018. "The Independent Associations between Walk Score ® and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Waist Circumference, Waist-To-Hip Ratio and Body Mass Index Among Urban Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, June.
    16. Christopher Coutts & Micah Hahn, 2015. "Green Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-31, August.
    17. Yang, Wei & Hu, Jie & Liu, Yong & Guo, Wenbo, 2023. "Examining the influence of neighborhood and street-level built environment on fitness jogging in Chengdu, China: A massive GPS trajectory data analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    18. Gavin R. McCormack & Autumn Nesdoly & Dalia Ghoneim & Tara-Leigh McHugh, 2020. "Realtors’ Perceptions of Social and Physical Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Active Living: A Canadian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Richard J. Shaw & Iva Čukić & Ian J. Deary & Catharine R. Gale & Sebastien F. M. Chastin & Philippa M. Dall & Manon L. Dontje & Dawn A. Skelton & Laura Macdonald & Geoff Der, 2017. "The Influence of Neighbourhoods and the Social Environment on Sedentary Behaviour in Older Adults in Three Prospective Cohorts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, May.
    20. Saengryeol Park & So-Youn Park & Gapjin Oh & In-Hwan Oh, 2019. "Latent Profiles Based on Light Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Perceived Body Shape, and Body Mass Index in Patients with Dyslipidemia Influence Their Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-10, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1131-:d:319016. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.