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Activity-Friendly Built Environment Attributes and Adult Adiposity

Current Obesity Reports volume 3, pages 183–198 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Physically-active and sedentary behaviors are determinants of adult weight gain and are associated with built-environment attributes. We reviewed recent evidence on built-environment attributes with adult adiposity. Of 41 relevant papers identified, 34 reported cross-sectional, six recorded prospective findings, and one included both cross-sectional and prospective designs. In 15 cross-sectional examinations of composite built environment indices (walkability; composite other), seven identified significant positive relationships in the expected direction; of 42 instances examining particular walkability elements (density, connectivity, land use mix), 13 were positive. Of 44 instances examining proximity of utilitarian and recreational destinations, there were 13 positive associations; and, of 41 instances examining pedestrian-environment attributes, 12 were positive. In the seven prospective studies, 20 sets of relationships were identified – nine were significant and in the expected direction. Evidence on built environment/adiposity relationships remains modest and could be strengthened through improvements in measurement methods and with further evidence from prospective studies.

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Acknowledgments

Koohsari is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Program Grant [#569940] and by the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Owen is supported by a NHMRC Program Grant [#569940], a Senior Principal Research Fellowship [NHMRC #1003960] and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Mavoa is supported by Community Indicators Victoria, which is funded by VicHealth. Sugiyama is supported by the NHMRC (PhD scholarship within Centre of Research Excellence) and the National Institute of Health (research subcontract from UC San Diego).

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Conflict of Interest

Takemi Sugiyama is employed by the University of South Australia, and he has received honoraria from the University of Sydney for a PhD Thesis review.

Mohammad Javad Koohsari is employed by Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes.

Suzanne Mavoa is employed by the University of Melbourne and Massey University.

Neville Owen is employed by Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes; he has received book royalties from Sage publishers; he has received travel/accommodations expenses covered or reimbursed from University of British Colombia; American Institute for Cancer Research.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Affiliations

  1. Social Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, Sansom Institute for Health Research & School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Playford Building P4-18E, City East Campus, Adelaide, 5001, Australia

    Takemi Sugiyama

  2. Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, 3004, Australia

    Takemi Sugiyama, Mohammad Javad Koohsari & Neville Owen

  3. McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Mohammad Javad Koohsari & Suzanne Mavoa

  4. SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, School of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

    Suzanne Mavoa

  5. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 5, 207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, 3010, Australia

    Suzanne Mavoa & Neville Owen

  6. School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Neville Owen

  7. Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Neville Owen

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  1. Takemi Sugiyama
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  2. Mohammad Javad Koohsari
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  3. Suzanne Mavoa
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  4. Neville Owen
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Correspondence to Neville Owen.

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Takemi Sugiyama and Mohammad Javad Koohsari are joint lead authors.

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Sugiyama, T., Koohsari, M.J., Mavoa, S. et al. Activity-Friendly Built Environment Attributes and Adult Adiposity. Curr Obes Rep 3, 183–198 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0096-9

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Keywords

  • Body mass index
  • Waist circumference
  • Built environment
  • Walkability
  • Pedestrian infrastructure
  • Aesthetics
  • Safety
  • Recreational facilities
  • Parks
  • Population density
  • Destinations
  • Street connectivity
  • Land use mix
  • Urban design
  • Physical activity
  • Walking
  • Sedentary behavior
  • Sitting
  • Cross-sectional study
  • Prospective study
  • Adult adiposity