4303 Exam 2: ch 4-6

Measuring Facilities: Objective Measures

-Better precision in measures of access, proximity and resource quality -Geographic Information Systems -Location and size -Physical Activity Resource Assessment instrument (PARA) -Location, type, cost, features, amenities, quality and incivilities, estimates size -Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces Instrument (EARPS) -characterize the physical environments within public parks and playgrounds -Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) Assesses public trail characteristics

Personal Automobile Dependency

-Car dependency in the U.S is at its tops -The average number of cars per household is 2.1 cars -By the age of 20 most young adults own or have owned a car

Measuring the Built Environment: direct method/strength /weakness

-Direct Methods • Involve the use of in-person audits of the environment by trained observers • Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) • Goods and Services (GASI) -Strengths • Objective measure, trained observers collect data, accurate measure of environment - Weaknesses • Time consuming, observer fatigue

Accessibility

-Ease of travel to and from a physical activity facility -Ease of use of a particular physical activity resource -Often used interchangeably with Usability Examples: Little traffic to get to facility No lines to wait in to enter Equipment is easy to set up and use

Parks and Open Spaces

-Environmental Benefits - Trees reduce air pollution -Moderate temperature -Economic Benefits -Increase property values -Increase community business -Puts money back into the community

Home Exercise Equipment

-Equipment that can be used for physical activity or exercise in a home setting Examples: Treadmill Stationary Bike Exercise Videos Team Sports equipment Running Shoes

Safety

-Freedom from danger, risk, or injury -Can act as a motivator or a barrier to physical activity -Motivators - personal safety, away from cars and traffic -Barriers - crime, traffic, fear of dogs/Wolves, lighting, no one else around, etc.

Rural Communities

-Higher levels of obesity -More poverty, medically underserved, lower educational levels -Feelings of isolation -Few sidewalks and no shopping malls -Fewer resources

Measuring the Built Environment: indirect method/strength/weakness

-Indirect Methods • Aggregate data - data combined from several measures • SES- a measure of economic and social ranking • US Census • US Geological Survey of land use and land cover • Geographic Information System (GIS) • Computer based method stores, analyses, and combines geographic information such as aerial phots, land use, parks, schools, streets -Strength • time efficient -Weakness • data sources may not be up to date as those obtained by direct observation

Measuring the Built Environment: intermediate method/strength/weakness

-Intermediate Methods • Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) • Self Report - residents provide information about - types of residences, access to services, stores and facility, safety, aesthetic, streets and intersections • Databases (Internet and marketing) -Strengths • Time efficient, less staff burden -Weaknesses • Bias on participant's part • Incomplete/inaccurate databases

Health Benefits: walking

-Lead to increased energy expenditure -Weight loss -Improved fitness -Increase lipoprotein concentration (women) -Reduced risk of osteoporosis

Physical Activity Association to Obesity

-Physical Activity + Exercise = Physical Fitness - FITT Principle -Principle of Progression -Stress/Rest Principle

Future Implications

-Promoting trails, parks and other public facilities may lead to an increase in physical activity in our communities -Influence changes in policy -create more safe, high quality resources for people of all economic levels - make resources already available more attractive to potential physical activity seekers

Urban Communities

-Urban planning has created more sidewalks, bikeways, shopping malls, etc. - Greater access & closer proximity -More frequent use of PA resources

measuring the built environment : 3 categories

-self-report methods -geographic information systems-based measures (GIS-based measures) - observational assessment method

Walking Downstairs

0.05 kcal/step 2.88 METs ◦ Men burn 3.7 kcal/min ◦ Women burn 2.86 kcal/min In 30 minutes ◦ 111 kcal (men) ◦ 88 kcal (women)

Number of parks and associated increase in PA

1-3 parks: 30 >4parks: 65 >8 parks: 80

Walking to School: (Percent of Children Walking to School by Year)

1969: 40% of children 2008: 12% of children

Prevalence of overweight among U.S. children and adolescents

2-5 years: 10.5 % 6-11 years: 15.5% 12-19 years: 15.2%

Walking Upstairs

70 steps per minute 8.6 METs Men burn 10.92 kcal/min Women burn 9/08 kcal/min 30 minute stair climb 328 kcal (men) 272 kcal (women)

Physical Activity Resource Characteristics That Affect Us

Accessibility Proximity Safety Playground Safety Amenities Aesthetics Incivilities Measuring Facilities

What does the research say?

Another study found that obesity was HIGHEST among those who drove the most (27%) compared to those who drove the least

Physical Activity Resources

Any public or private setting or equipment that promotes exercise, recreation or physical activity Examples: -Parks and Open Spaces -Biking Trails and Bikeways -Recreational Facilities

Public Transportation & Obesity

Bicycle: 40% overweight or obese public transport: 45% over weight or obese private car: 60% over weight or obese

Environmental Techniques to Promote Stair Use

Convenient location Music Clean carpet Artwork Motivational Sign Aesthetics

What does the research say?

Each additional hour spent in a car per day may be associated with a 6% increase in the likelihood of obesity 51% research participants that drove to work were classified as being overweight or obese compared to non-car drivers

Playground Safety

Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries. (CDC)

Incivilities

Elements that would reduce the pleasure associated with using a particular physical activity resource Examples: Litter Graffiti Broken glass

Measuring Facilities

Examine relationships between characteristics of the neighborhood physical environment and the obese population Assess aesthetics, safety, quality and incivilities of resources

Free-for-Use

Examples -Playgrounds u School/church gyms -Many community centers -Public parks -Sidewalks/Bike Paths

Pay-for-Use

Examples: -Gyms -Health Clubs -Swimming pools -Dance Studios - Sports Clubs

Parks and Open Spaces

Health Benefits: -Associated with vigorous physical activity -Improve mood u Reduce stress -Enhance a sense of wellness -Restorative effect of nature -Reduce depression -Lower levels of anxiety and sadness

Public Transportation

Increase physical activity Reduce obesity Improves air quality

number of PA resources by neighborhood

Low SES: 4.5 Med SES: 5 High SES: 8.5 SES (socioeconomic)

Using Stairs as Transportation

Low cost Easily accessible Not noticeable Indoor physical exercise

Neighborhood Socioeconomics

Low-SES neighborhoods: -Fewer PA Resources -Fewer free-for-use PA Resources

Measuring Facilities: Subjective Measures

Measure perceptions or self-reports of accessibility, proximity, safety, and quality of resources Examples : questionnaires surveys

Walkability: (Mixed income, mixed use:Nearby schools and workplaces)

Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, single and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other. Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

Stair Climbing

Mortality Rate 13.6= <10 Storeys Climbed (per wk) Mortality Rate 13.5 = 10< 20 Storeys Climbed (per wk) Mortality Rate 10= 20-<25 Storeys Climbed (per wk) Mortality Rate 9.5= 25+Storeys Climbed (per wk)

Burden on Natural Resources

Nearly 1 billion gallons of additional fuel per year can be attributed to the average weight gain between 1960 and 2002 of people living in the United States

Walkability: Parks and public space

Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play

Proximity

Perceived or objectively measured distance of physical activity resources to an individual Examples: -Distance (in miles) of gym from your home (objective measure) -Approximate number of minutes it takes to get to the gym from your home (perceived)

Amenities

Specific features of recreation facilities that add comfort or convenience to users and influence them to partake in physical activity Examples: Restrooms Benches Street lights

Health Benefits: Using Stairs as Transportation

Take the stairs instead of the escalator Net on pound fat loss annually 10 min/day of stairs for 8 wks = 30 min/day walking 24 wks

Walkability: Density

The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently

the built environment

The physical form: • Human-made buildings and structures • Roads, buildings, food sources, recreational facilities Components: • Density, land-use mix, street connectivity, street scale, aesthetic qualities, regional structure

Aesthetics

The quality or condition of the physical activity resource and its features. Examples: picnic park skate park playground community pool trails ponds/rivers

Density

The quantity of people, households, or employment in a given area -Population per square mile -Number of jobs per square mile World Population = 7.7 Billion • USA = 327 million • Texas = 29.4 million • Metro Houston = 7 million

Walkability: A Center

Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.

Children and Adolescents and Obesity

Why? -Perhaps less access to close, safe physical activity resources

what is active transportation

a means of traveling from one location to another by way of some kind of individual physical activity

how does direct assessment differ from indirect assessment of a neighborhood

direct environment assessment methods to measure built environment involve the use of in-person audits to measure the environment while indirect methods rely on reports from residents

all of the following typically cited advantages to stair climbing for transportation EXCEPT

illegal at fancy hotel

which of the following instruments is an example of an intermediate assessment method for measuring the built environment

news

Relationship between time in car and obesity

probability of obesity; 5.2 = 1hr probability of obesity; 10.2 = 2 hrs Probability of obesity; 15.5 = 3 hrs Probability of obesity; 24 = 4 hrs Probability of obesity; 30 = 5 hrs

defining built factor

refers to the physical form of a: neighborhood community or city and includes: roads, buildings, food sources, and recreation facilities available to its residents for shopping, working, and playing

Geography

rural urban

what is the intensity of the built environment

the amount of activity that takes places within an area, based on the number of people, household, jobs

what is (PAR) accessibility

the ease of travel to and from physical activity resources as well as the ease of use of resources and equipment

what is physical activity resource (PAR) proximity

the measured distance from a physical activity resource to a residence, work place or other location

What is population density?

the quantity of people in a given area

Percentage of Parents Reporting Barriers to Walking to School (CDC)

traffic: about 20% crime: about 15% far: about 60% weather: about 5% not allowed/other: about 17%

Percent of adults who engage in activity

walking: 42% gardening: 26% Weightlifting:15% Bicycling: 11% jogging:10% swimming: 5%

Street Connectivity

• How destinations are linked through the transportation system • A measure of the directness and availability of routes within a street network • The number of intersections within a given area • The ratio between the straight line distance and distance along the street network between two points

Safety

• Personal Safety • Traffic Safety • Walkability

Neighborhood Aesthetics

• Residences closer to water is associated with higher levels of physical activity • Residences in more attractive neighborhoods tend to be associated with lower rates of stress • More attractive neighborhoods tend to be safer

Built Environment and Obesity

• Residences in a deprived neighborhood is associated with less physical activity, poorer quality dietary habits, and obesity. • Deprived neighborhoods have been defined as neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status (SES).

Aesthetic Qualities

• The attractiveness or appeal of a place • Design of buildings • Availability of public amenities • Cleanliness and maintenance • Presence of trees and shade

Land-Use Mix

• The different types of land uses that are within an area • -offices, housing, parks and recreational facilities, restaurants, stores, entertainment