Research
Research on links between the quality of the built and natural environment, physical activity and physical and mental health is an area of great interest and activity.
AUT research
In New Zealand, Dr Grant Schofield and his research team in physical activity and health at the Auckland University of Technology are focusing on integrating geographic information system (GIS) data with population level physical activity data to understand the relationship between environmental factors and physical activity behaviour. We will report the results of that research on this site when they are available.
SPARC research
The Activity-Friendly Environments resource includes reviews of, and references to, research in New Zealand and overseas. You can download this section of the resource below:
Key points include:
- If you provide safe environments, people's behaviour may change.
- Creating or enhancing access to places for physical activity is an effective way of getting people to exercise more.
- Point-of-decision prompts that encourage people to use the stairs are recommended to promote physical activity.
- Community-wide multicomponent campaigns are strongly recommended to promote physical activity.
- Media-led, community-wide intervention programmes result in message recognition and increased intentions to be active.
- People living in sprawling suburbs are more likely to be overweight and walk less than people in more densely populated places. The reason, say researchers, is because people have to drive everywhere.
- People living in Western Australia are more likely to be overweight if walking facilities are not readily available.
- People in the US with access to trails and places to exercise are more likely to engage in recommended levels of physical activity.
- Walking and cycling to school improves fitness and leads to better attendance and punctuality.
Updated | 03 Oct 2007.
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