Active Living Research

BACKGROUND: African American adolescents residing in the South are at increased risk for obesity and physical inactivity, yet our understanding of potential influences is limited. PURPOSE: Using an ecological framework, this study explored multilevel predictors (individual, family, home, and neighborhood environment) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among 116 African American adolescents (ages 12–16). METHODS: Adolescents and their parents completed self-report surveys for hypothesized predictors. Youth physical activity was measured using accelerometry. RESULTS: In multiple regression models, decreased daily MVPA was associated with female sex (β = −24.27, p < 0.0001). Family social support (β = 1.07, p = 0.004) and adolescent self efficacy for PA (β = 6.89, p = 0.054) were positively associated with daily MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent demographics along with family social support and self-efficacy influence younger African American adolescent physical activity. Further exploration of the complex interaction of multiple levels of influence is needed to develop appropriate interventions for this vulnerable group.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between physical education (PE) policies and children’s PE and recess time is not well understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the association of district and school PE policies, the PE environment, and PE and recess time. METHODS: Key informants in 65 schools from 9 states completed instruments assessing district and school PE policies, the school PE environment, and time in PE and recess. RESULTS: Few significant associations were found between PE policies and PE or recess minutes; no policies were associated with both. A number of PE environmental variables were associated with both policies and time in PE and recess. CONCLUSIONS: PE policies, their implementation, and PE environmental variables can have important implications for recess time. Some school PE environment measures designed to improve PE may result in PE time limitations. Deficiencies in PE and recess time are not likely to be effectively addressed through policy adoption alone.

BACKGROUND: California law has standards for physical education (PE) instruction in K-12 public schools; audits found that the Los Angeles Unified School District did not enforce the standards. In 2009, the district adopted a PE policy to comply with these standards. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the PE policy in district schools. METHODS: PE class observations were conducted using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time in the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 school years in an income-stratified random sample of 34 elementary, middle, and high schools to assess changes in PE class size, class duration, and time students spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. RESULTS: PE class duration increased in high-income elementary schools. Mean class size decreased in low-income middle schools. CONCLUSIONS: There was limited implementation of the PE policy 2 years after passage. Opportunities exist to continue monitoring and improving PE quantity and quality.

BACKGROUND: School-based extracurricular sport remains an effective strategy to increase physical activity. However, school sport is often limited to a small number of elite athletes. Few schools provide more inclusive sport programs that offer a wider array of activities regardless of ability. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine school sport participation in middle schools (ages 11–14) with contrasting school sport delivery strategies (intramural vs. interscholastic). METHODS: Data were obtained through an online survey administered to students at four public middle schools (grades 6–8) in a southeastern US city (n = 2,582). RESULTS: More students participated in school sports at intramural schools. Boys were more likely to participate in after-school sports at intramural schools. Low-income and Black children, two groups at greater risk of physical inactivity and other negative outcomes, had greater participation in intramural programs. CONCLUSIONS: After-school intramural sports in middle school is a promising strategy for increasing sport participation.

BACKGROUND: Incorporating cycling into daily life is one way to increase physical activity. PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of building new bike lanes in New Orleans to determine whether more people were cycling on the street and with the flow of traffic after bike lanes were built. METHODS: Through direct observation of one intervention and two adjacent streets, observers counted cyclists riding on the street and sidewalk, with and against traffic, before and after installation of the lanes. Data were tallied separately for adults, children, males, females, and by race for each location. RESULTS: There was an increase in cyclists on all three streets after the installation of the bike lanes, with the largest increase on the street with the new lane. Additionally, the proportion of riders cycling with traffic increased after the lanes were striped. CONCLUSIONS: Bike lanes can have a positive impact in creating a healthy neighborhood.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood perceived/built environment and physical activity (PA) associations have been examined for adolescents around homes, but not surrounding schools. PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine if positive perceptions/built environment in neighborhoods surrounding schools predict PA among low-income, urban adolescent girls. METHODS: Measures include: minutes in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA, ankle accelerometry), perceptions of the school environment (questionnaire), built environment (neighborhood audit). Analyses include multi-level models. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-four sixth and seventh grade girls [mean(sd) age = 12.1(0.7) years] from 12 schools serving low-income, primarily African American communities; mean MVPA 35.4 min (mean days assessed = 5.8). Girls in schools with more positive perceptions of the neighborhood environment surrounding the school were less active (β = 7.2, p = 0.043). Having “places to go within walking distance” (perceptions) and number of food stores near school (built environment) positively relate to MVPA (β = 5.5, p = 0.042 and β = 0.59, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Among neighborhoods surrounding urban schools, positive perceptions do not predict PA; accessibility, via both perceived and built environment, support PA.

BACKGROUND: Long distance is a leading environmental barrier to walking to school and requires long-term, multilevel interventions. Meanwhile, childhood obesity remains highly prevalent, calling for more immediate solutions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine attitudinal and environmental correlates of walking to the elementary school, controlling for distance. METHODS: Using parental survey data, 601 child pairs with matched home locations and different school travel modes (walking vs. private automobile) were examined, using conditional logistic regressions. RESULTS: Despite the same/similar objectively measured distance and home location, perceptions of distance, sidewalk and traffic conditions, park presence, and convenience of walking differed between walkers and automobile users. Parental attitudes and children’s preferences were associated with the odds of walking. Safety concerns (traffic danger, stranger danger, and getting lost) were higher among drivers, but only significant in bivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: To promote walking to school, route/street improvements appear promising, but parallel educational and promotional efforts may be needed to address perceptual and attitudinal barriers.

BACKGROUND: Parks are key community assets for physical activity, but some evidence suggests these resources are not equitably distributed. PURPOSE: This study examined disparities by income and race/ethnicity in the availability, features, and quality of parks across Kansas City, Missouri. METHODS: All parks and census tracts (CTs) were mapped using geographical information systems, and park features and quality were determined via audits. Multivariate analyses of covariance analyzed differences in park availability, features, and quality across low-, medium-, and high-income and race/ethnicity CT tertiles. RESULTS: Low-income CTs contained significantly more parks, but also had fewer parks with playgrounds and more quality concerns per park. High minority CTs had more parks with basketball courts, but fewer parks with trails. Medium-income CTs contained more aesthetic features per park. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should examine policies that contribute to and that might rectify disparities in park features and quality, especially in low-income and high minority areas.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living Research, OCAD University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene present the second in a series of supplements to the original Active Design Guidelines, Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing. Housing developments present an important opportunity for creating healthy places where people live, including children and their families. Affordable housing presents a particularly important opportunity to address health and social issues, including health disparities.

Given the current lack of safe opportunities for physical activity in many low-income neighborhoods, as well as limitations on time and resources, it is more important than ever to design affordable housing that supports active play and physical activity.

Drawing from the expanding evidence-base, Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing focuses on feasible, low-cost ways to implement Active Design in affordable housing developments across the United States. This publication presents 11 case studies that explore the means and costs of applying Active Design in family-focused affordable housing developments and provides concrete examples and analysis of how simple, low- to no-cost design changes can help encourage active living amongst affordable housing residents of all ages.

By implementing Active Design strategies, developers, architects, planners, and building owners can help combat the current epidemics of obesity and related chronic diseases. We recognize collaborations such as these are essential to create healthier, more sustainable communities.

Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing was developed through a partnership among OCAD University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and private sector developers. Other agencies contributing to this document include NYC Departments of Housing Preservation and Development, and Design and Construction. Work related to this publication has been supported by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living Research program.