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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Urban trails and physical activity: a natural experiment
Eugene C Fitzhugh1, David R Bassett, Mary F Evans
1Center for Physical Activity and Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2700, USA. fitzhugh@utk.edu
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|August 17, 2010
Summary
Improving neighborhood walkability and bikeability through built environment changes can increase physical activity. However, these enhancements did not impact active transport to school in this quasi-experimental study.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- The built environment significantly influences physical activity levels.
- Existing evidence relies heavily on cross-sectional studies.
- Prospective studies using natural experiments are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of improved pedestrian connectivity on physical activity.
- To assess changes in neighborhood physical activity and active transport to school.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental design with one intervention and two control neighborhoods (2005-2007).
- Intervention involved retrofitting an urban greenway/trail to enhance pedestrian connectivity.
- Measured directly observed physical activity and active transport to school.
Main Results:
- Physical activity counts significantly increased in the intervention neighborhood (p=0.000) and decreased in control neighborhoods (p=0.000).
- Significant differences in pre- and post-intervention changes for total physical activity, walking, and cycling between groups.
- No significant changes in active transport to school were observed.
Conclusions:
- Modifications to the built environment's pedestrian infrastructure can enhance neighborhood physical activity.
- The positive impact on physical activity was confined to general neighborhood activity, not active transport to school.
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