Physical inactivity is an important international public health issue as the population is becoming increasingly sedentary. Physical activity is any bodily movement that is produced by the skeletal muscles and requires energy expenditure. It is important in everyday life as it is essential for growth and development. Physical activity produces progressive health benefits since avoiding a sedentary life will decrease the chances of obesity and sedentary death syndrome. Furthermore, daily physical activity will lead one to become physically fit which will allow them the freedom to do everyday tasks without a problem. However, not everyone can be physically active as some populations encounter barriers that prevent them from being active. Recent studies have found links between the built environment and physical inactivity. The built environment includes urban design, land-use, the transportation system, and the relatively close activities available to a neighbourhood (Booth et al., 2005). These elements of the built environment can shape peoples opportunity to be physically active. In Belgium, between 2002 and 2003, 43.1% of the 357 Belgians surveyed did not meet guidelines for physical activity. Slightly better in Canada, 14.9% of the 619 Canadians surveyed did not meet guidelines for physical activity (Sallis et al., 2009). Both of the examples above were due to barriers caused by the built environment. On the more extreme, a European survey indicated that two thirds of the adult European population is not sufficiently active due to the built environment (Sjöström et al., 2006). As you can see, the built environment is a barrier that restricts a population’s ability to be physically active. The built environment is a broad topic b...
... middle of paper ...
...is, J. (2004). Violent crime and outdoor physical activity among inner-city youth. Preventive Medicine, 39(5), 876. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.03.019
Sallis, J., Bowles, H., Bauman, A., Ainsworth, B., Bull, F., Craig, C. (2009). Neighborhood environments and physical activity among adults in 11 countries. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(6), 484. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2009.01.031
Sjöström, M., Oja, P., Hagströmer, M., Smith, J., & Bauman, A. (2006). Health-enhancing physical activity across european union countries: The eurobarometer study. Journal, 14(5), 291. doi:10.1007/s10389-006-0031-y
Titze, S., Stronegger, W., Janschitz, S., & Oja, P. (2008). Association of built-environment, social-environment and personal factors with bicycling as a mode of transportation among austrian city dwellers. Preventive Medicine, 47(3), 252. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.02.019
The ambiance of a district also sways the wellness of the individuals that reside within the province. It is proven that citizens who have “greener” communities (more parks, grassy areas, trees) are more likely to be healthier and have a greater life expectancy (2). This could stem from a feeling of security which allows for the people of that area engage in exercise more often than people from areas where it is unsafe to walk the streets alone even in the daytime. Lack of r...
Barnes PM, Schoenborn CA. Physical activity among adults: United States, 2000. Advance data from vital and health statistic; no. 333. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistic. 2003.
Location is often overlooked when analyzing the public’s health, despite the fact that it plays a major role in a community’s well-being. Differences in mortality, morbidity, and life expectancy vary dramatically both within and between countries. Zip codes may be more important than genetic codes; school files may be more telling than medical files; time spent at work may be more relevant than time spent at the doct...
Pate et al. (1995) stated that physical activity is needed for health promotion and disease prevention. They also stated that every adult should do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise everyday if possible. Moderate intensity exercising includes activities such as brisk walking and cycling as stated by the Department of Health (2011). They also state that regular physical activity will improve a person’s mental health as it will increase self esteem and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical wellbeing is also enhanced by an increase in physical activity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2002) found that in developed countries 20% of heart disease and 10% of strokes are due to physical inactivity. Furthermore a lack of physical activity is found to cause 3% of all diseases.
Physical activities not only has benefits for parents, but also, helps children’s social life, and health. The studies done by Woonerf in Netherlands and safe routes to school programs have shown how sidewalk infrastructure can change spaces for children to being more active. The safe routes program should extended to not only developed countries. The program should cover the whole world. Short term and long term development should happen in cities to promote the existing routes and create new sidewalks based on whole generation needs for the future.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
With the development of HEDIS measures, the emphasis on physical activity in older adults has taken on greater significance. Physical inactivity contributes to an estimated 27% of national healthcare costs, and older adults are more likely to develop chronic disease preventable by physical activity (Neidrick, Fick, & Loeb, 2012). Currently, less than 20% of older adults meet the activity recommendations set forth by the CDC, and over half are considered to lead a sedentary lifestyle (National Quality Measures Clearinghouse [NQMC], 2015; Neidrick, Fick, & Loeb, 2012).
The level of the population’s level of physical activity is becoming a major public health concern in the United States (Wahlgren, 2011). As a result of urban sprawl, Americans rely heavily on personal vehicles to travel to work or other destinations. This is leading to a sedentary life style for the public as they take to their cars to travel to their destination. The public’s perception of the environments in which they live in are likely influencing their behaviors resulting in their dependance on personal vehicles. (Wahlgren, 2011). The physical environment and peoples’ levels of physical activity are directly connected. Low density zoning and auto-dependent development is resulting in the promotion of sedentary life styles. Most activities, like commuting to work or shopping, requires the use of a personal vehicle because of the area’s isolation in residential zones and commercial zones (Ewing, 2010). Alternative modes like walking or bicycling are rather impractical, as the areas often have little to no sidewalks or other pedestrian friendly amenities (Marshall, 2009). The Low density design is developed because residential homes have fewer units per acre and commercial buildings tend to only be a couple of stories and spaced further apart. The sizes of lots tend to be bigger to accommodate large parking lots that are often oversized and unsafe for pedestrians.
Routine physical activity may be difficult for those with low income to achieve. Firstly, people who have low income generally must work longer and laborious hours than people in the high and middle income rankings in order to have enough money to get by. Low-class Americans simply do not have the time or energy to exercise their bodies. Also, an individual’s economic status can be the cause for several obstacles of achieving physical fitness. For instance, the lack of transportation to and from the gym could be a major problem, as well as being able to pay gym membership fees or gym equipment. It is further explained, “A lack of good transportation choices is the most important single issue that limits routine activities such as walking, biking, and transit use by low income people.” (Squibb 2) Poor economy is only one of the ways low-income individuals are limited to physical fitness.
This article used a mixed method approach to assess the physical activity of 85 students at a public school in Denmark. Data was collected using observation, group interview, an accelerometer, and GPS. Both analyses showed very similar data. The data was broken down into three groups; building, school yard, and field. The students in the building category were the least active and the students in the field category were the most active. The researchers noticed that the students in the building were mainly female and the field was majority boys.
This literature review will look into cycling as a means of transportation, for both commuter and recreational purposes, as well as look in depth, the question of just how much can cycling improve both our mental and physical health? The review will examine/critique the statistics that try to prove the affects of physical activity for public health, as well as outline the strengths of each claim and expose the weaknesses. The great philosopher Plato said that the "lack of activity [in society] destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it". This review will outline the dilemma we face in todays society; it ultimately can be referred to, as David Bannister suggests, the fascination with 'distance, speed and time'. For these three qualities are so domineering in our lives today and the effects (both positive and negative) play a substantial part in our lives. The review will critique the writings of scholars such as Tranter, Bannister, Racioppi, Tight and Lindsay as they attempt to define the importance of physical activity for public health.
A walkability analysis is the study of an area in relation to analyzing the conditions of a built environment that can be traveled by foot. The term ‘walkability’ is used as a way to measure the lives of “foot people,” evaluating the questions of whether walkability influences crime, foreclosures, housing values in neighborhoods and health factors such as obesity. The spaces that neighborhoods exist in can be completely different from each other; some could have parks while other does not, including sidewalks, bike paths and more. Walking is the simplest and one of the most common forms of physical activity among adults, regardless of age, sex, ethnic group, education or income level. Even though walking is a simple form of exercise the obesity levels continue to rise in the United States. One of the most common ways to determine if a
Heathy People 2020 emphasized that social determinants play an important role in the health of an individual. Examples of social determinants include availability of resources to meet daily needs, transportation options, access to mass media and emerging technologies, or exposure to physical hazards and toxic substances. For example, unsanitary housing is associated with exposures to mold, moistures, dust mites, or even lead. Places that are absent of sidewalks, bike paths, or recreational areas can discourage physical activity for some communities. As a result, these conditions in different settings can affect a person’s quality of life. Poor health outcomes are often corresponding to the interaction between people and their physical or social environments. For that reason, policies and interventions are implemented to ensure a healthier
Participation in sport, particularly in adults is shown to be rapidly decreasing. In The general Household Survey (2002, cited in National statistics) it was discovered that with the exclusion of walking, only 43% of the population had participated in some form of exercise in the four weeks prior to the research interview. It is accepted with recent statistics that participation rates in the UK are not adhering to the advised five times a week from the Department of Health, the author feels this is a worrying reality as there are many health implications resulting from a national neglect towards exercise.
"Physical Activity and Public Health." Scholar Commons of South Carolina. American Heart Association, 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.