The effects of the built environment on the general health, physical activity and obesity of adults in Queensland, Australia
Article
Article Title | The effects of the built environment on the general health, physical activity and obesity of adults in Queensland, Australia |
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ERA Journal ID | 124635 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Wang, Siqin, Liu, Yan, Lam, Jack and Kwan, Mei-Po |
Journal Title | Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology |
Journal Citation | 39, pp. 1-11 |
Article Number | 100456 |
Number of Pages | 11 |
Year | Nov 2021 |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 1877-5845 |
1877-5853 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sste.2021.100456 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877584521000551 |
Abstract | The built environment has been identified as a key factor for health intervention and obesity prevention. However, it is still unclear to what extent the built environment is associated with obesity and general health and to what extent such an association is mediated through variation in physical activity. This study aims to examine the associations between individual characteristics, the built environment, physical activity, general health and body mass index to reveal the pathways through which the built environment is associated with the prevalence of obesity. Using data from 1,788 adults aged 18 to 65 in Queensland from Wave 16 of the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, we use geographic information system-based methods to quantify built environment factors in 5D dimensions: Density, Diversity, Design, Distance and Destination accessibility. We then employ multi-level mixed-effect models to test the hypothesised relationships between individual characteristics, the built environment, physical activity, general health and body mass index. The results indicate that physical activity is positively associated with general health and negatively associated with the prevalence of obesity. Adjusting for individual characteristics, we find that built-environment factors have direct effects on physical activity but indirect effects on general health and obesity. Among these factors, greater green space exposure plays a key role in enhancing general health and reducing obesity. Low-density and car-dependent neighbourhoods can be activity-friendly and mitigate obesity if these neighbourhoods are also equipped with easy access to green space. |
Keywords | Built environment; Obesity; body mass index; Physical activity; General health; Australian adults |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
Chinese University of Hong Kong, China | |
Utrecht University, Netherlands | |
Library Services |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/w8x15/the-effects-of-the-built-environment-on-the-general-health-physical-activity-and-obesity-of-adults-in-queensland-australia
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