Potential Environmental Determinants of Physical Activity in Adults: A Systematic Review
- Author(s): W. Wendel-Vos, M. Droomers, S Kremers, et al.
- Organization: Obesity Reviews
- Date Published: January 1, 2007
Based on the results of the present review, we conclude that research on environmental attributes associated with physical activity among adult men and women shows promising, but still a limited set of positive findings. Important environmental determinants that emerged from this review were social support, having a companion for physical activity, connectivity of trails and the availability of physical activity equipment. These associations were present most convincingly when physical activity measures were more narrowly defined. Only for walking behaviour, we found some indication that environmental determinants of physical activity may differ between men and women.
Promoting Ecosystem and Human Health in Urban Areas using Green Infrastructure: A Literature Review
- Author(s): Konstantinos Tzoulas, Kalevi Korpela, Stephen Venn, et al.
- Organization: Landscape and Urban Planning
- Date Published: January 1, 2007
The aim of this paper is to formulate a conceptual framework of associations between urban green space, and ecosystem and human health. Through an interdisciplinary literature review the concepts of Green Infrastructure, ecosystem health, and human health and well-being are discussed…. (A) proposed conceptual framework highlights many dynamic factors, and their complex interactions, affecting ecosystem health and human health in urban areas. This framework forms the context into which extant and new research can be placed.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204607000503
School Travel Planning Model
- Author(s): Ontario Active School Travel
- Organization: Ontario Active School Travel
- Date Published: October 1, 2012
School Travel Planning (STP) is a community-based model for implementing active school travel that systematically addresses barriers to and incentives for walking to school. School Travel Planning strengthens local commitment to active school travel.
The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
- Author(s): Committee on Environmental Health
- Organization: Pediatrics
- Date Published: January 1, 2009
Factors such as school location have played a significant role in the decreased rates of walking to school, and changes in policy may help to increase the number of children who are able to walk to school. Environment modification that addresses risks associated with automobile traffic is likely to be conducive to more walking and biking among children. Actions that reduce parental perception and fear of crime may promote outdoor physical activity. Policies that promote more active lifestyles among children and adolescents will enable them to achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/6/1591.full.pdf+html
The Fruit of Urban Nature: Vital Neighborhood Spaces.
- Author(s): William Sullivan, et al.
- Organization: Journal: Environment and Behaviour. http://eab.sagepub.com/
- Date Published: September 3, 2004
What makes a neighbourhood space vial? This article explores the possibility that the presence of trees and grass may be one of the key component of vital neighbourhood paces. This research reports on 758 observations of individuals in 59 outdoor common spaces in a residential development. Twenty-seven of the neighborhood common spaces were relatively green, whereas 32 were relatively barren. Results indicate that the presence of trees an grass is related to the use of outdoor spaces, the amount of social activity that takes place within the,, and the proportion of social t nonsocial activities they support. The findings improve and broaden our understanding of the physical characteristics that influence social contact among neighbors and provide evidence that nature plays an important role in creating vital neighbourhood spaces.
http://www.willsull.net/Publications_files/Sullivan,%20Kuo,%20DePooter.pdf
The Impact of Community Design and Land-use Choices on Public Health: A Scientific Research Agenda
- Author(s): Andrew Dannenberg, Richard Jackson, Howard Frumkin, et al.
- Organization: American Journal of Public Health
- Date Published: January 1, 2003
Results of the research described in this report may help identify best practices and help communities to avoid making design decisions that have unintended negative consequences. Research results are important both for the design of new communities and for the revitalization of existing communities. Overall, it is hoped that such research will help guide local community design decisions and favorably influence the health of the public.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448000/pdf/0931500.pdf
Walkability Toolkit
- Author(s): Canada Walks (http://www.canadawalks.ca/)
- Organization: Canada Walks (http://www.canadawalks.ca/)
- Date Published: January 1, 2007
The Walkability Toolkit has been created to serve as a resource for audiences interested in creating walkable communities focusing on pedestrian friendly environments. The toolkit is a compilation of a variety of Canadian articles including statistics that will enable you to provide sound research for your initiative. This Toolkit is a work in progress and has adapted some of its materials from the America Walks Pedestrian Advocacy Toolkit.
http://canadawalks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/walkON_Walkability_Toolkit-Chapter_1.pdf
WalkBC
- Author(s): BC Recreation and Parks Association (https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/)
- Organization: BC Recreation and Parks Association (https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/)
- Date Published: January 1, 2012
Walk BC encourages individual and group walking to increase overall health in communities through a range of programs that promote walking. This site helps communities and individuals increase awareness of the importance of a physically active lifestyle and support and promote walking as a key factor in increasing overall health and well-being.
Walk BC was created through a joint initiative between the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon and the BC Recreation & Parks Association (BCRPA). It was one of four initiatives under the Physical Activity Strategy. Funding was provided by the BC Healthy Living Alliance, with support from ActNow BC. The Walk BCå¨ initiative is now managed solely by the BCRPA.