Skip to main content
Log in

Playability: Built and Social Environment Features That Promote Physical Activity Within Children

  • Economy and Environment (I Janssen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Obesity Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of neighbourhood built and social environments in shaping children’s physical activity has received increasing interest over the past 10 years. We reviewed recent evidence published between 2011 and 2014. Most of the recent evidence continues to be cross-sectional. Few macro-level neighbourhood attributes were consistently associated with physical activity in the expected direction. The strongest evidence for associations between neighbourhood attributes and physical activity with was for the transportation environment, particularly in relation to proximity to school and transport-related physical activity. There was intermediate evidence that neighbourhood walking/cycling infrastructure and pedestrian safety structures are associated with transport-related PA. Recent evidence on associations between the neighbourhood built and social environment and children’s PA is modest. Stronger study designs and greater attention to conceptual-matching and specificity of measures are critical to advance the evidence base.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. World Health Organisation. Population-based approaches to childhood obesity prevention. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lifestyle Statistics Team, Health and Social Care Information Centre. National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2013/14 school year. London: The Health and Social Care Information Centre; 2014.

  3. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, et al. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA. 2014;311(8):806–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ng M, Fleming T, Robinson M, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2014;384(9945):766–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lobstein T, Baur L, Uauy R, et al. Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health. Obes Rev. 2004;5 Suppl 1:4–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Saris WHM, Blair SN, van Baak MA, et al. How much physical activity is enough to prevent unhealthy weight gain? Outcome of the IASO 1st Stock Conference and consensus statement. Obes Rev. 2003;4:101–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Boreham CA, McKay HA. Physical activity in childhood and bone health. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(11):877–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Andersen LB, Riddoch C, Kriemler S, et al. Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in children. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(11):871–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fedewa A, Ahn S. The effects of physical activity and physical fitness on children's achievement and cognitive outcomes: a meta-analysis. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2011;82(3):521–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hoare E, Skouteris H, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, et al. Associations between obesogenic risk factors and depression among adolescents: a systematic review. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2013;7:e53–e4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Tremblay MS. 2014 Global Summit on the Physical Activity of Children. J Phys Act Health. 2014;11:S1–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Stokols D. Translating social ecological theory into guidelines for community health promotion. Am J Health Promot. 1996;10(4):282–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sallis JF, Prochaska JJ, Taylor WC. A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(5):963–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Biddle SJH, Atkin AJ, Cavill N, et al. Correlates of physical activity in youth: a review of quantitative systematic reviews. Int Rev Sports Exerc Psychol. 2011;4(1):25–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ding D, Sallis JF, Kerr J, et al. Neighborhood environment and physical activity among youth a review. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41(4):442–55. Comprehensive review of studies examining neighbourhood correlates of physical activity among both children and adolescents (up to January, 2010).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. de Vet E, de Ridder DTD, de Wit JBF. Environmental correlates of physical activity and dietary behaviours among young people: a systematic review of reviews. Obes Rev. 2011;12:e130–e42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Davison KK, Lawson CT. Do attributes of the physical environment influence children's physical activity? A review of the literature. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006;3(1):19.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Giles-Corti B, Kelty SF, Zubrick SR, et al. Encouraging walking for transport and physical activity in children and adolescents: How Important is the Built Environment? Sports Med. 2009;39(12):995–1009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pont K, Ziviani J, Wadley D, et al. Environmental correlates of children's active transportation: a systematic literature review. Health Place. 2009;15(3):827–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Carver A, Timperio A, Crawford D. Playing it safe: the influence of neighborhood safety on children’s physical activity—a review. Health Place. 2008;14(2):217–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. World Health Organisation. Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Braza M, Shoemaker W, Seeley A. Neighborhood design and rates of walking and biking to elementary school in 34 California communities. Am J Health Promot. 2004;19(2):128–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ewing R, Schroeer W, Greene W. School location and student travel - Analysis of factors affecting mode choice. Transp Res Rec. 1895;2004:55–63.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Frank LD. Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures. Ann Behav Med. 2003;25(2):80–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Molnar BE, Gortmaker SL, Bull FC, et al. Unsafe to play? Neighborhood disorder and lack of safety predict reduced physical activity among urban children and adolescents. Am J Health Promot. 2004;18(5):378–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Burdette HL, Whitaker RC. A national study of neighbourhood safety, outdoor play, television viewing, and obesity in preschool children. Pediatr. 2005;116(3):657–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Carver A, Timperio A, Hesketh K, et al. Are children and adolescents less active if parents restrict their physical activity and active transport due to perceived risk? Soc Sci Med. 2010;70:1799–805.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Brownson RC, Hoehner CM, Day K, et al. Measuring the built environment for physical activity: state of the science. Prev Med. 2009;36(4 Suppl):S99–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sallis JF. Measuring physical activity environments: a brief history. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(4 Suppl):S86–92.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Sugiyama T, Koohsari MJ, Mavoa S, et al. Activity-friendly built environment attributes and adult adiposity. Curr Obes Rep. 2014;3:183–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Cain KL, Millstein RA, Sallis JF, et al. Contribution of streetscape audits to explanation of physical activity in four age groups based on the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS). Soc Sci Med. 2014;116:82–92.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Curriero FC, James NT, Shields TM, et al. Exploring Walking Path Quality as a Factor for Urban Elementary School Children's Active Transport to School. J Phys Act Health. 2013;10(3):323–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Datar A, Nicosia N, Shier V. Parent perceptions of neighborhood safety and children’s physical activity, sedentary behavior, and obesity: evidence from a national longitudinal study. Am J Epidemiol. 2013;177(10):1065–73.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Deweese RS, Yedidia MJ, Tulloch DL, et al. Neighborhood perceptions and active school commuting in low-income cities. Am J Prev Med. 2013;45(4):393–400.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Echeverria SE, Luan Kang A, Isasi CR, et al. A community survey on neighborhood violence, park use, and physical activity among urban youth. J Phys Act Health. 2014;11(1):186–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Galvez MP, McGovern K, Knuff C, et al. Associations Between Neighborhood Resources and Physical Activity in Inner-City Minority Children. Acad Pediatr. 2013;13(1):20–6.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Napier MA, Brown BB, Werner CM, et al. Walking to school: community design and child and parent barriers. Environ Psychol. 2011;31(1):45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Oluyomi AO, Lee C, Nehme E, et al. Parental safety concerns and active school commute: correlates across multiple domains in the home-to-school journey. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11(1):32.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Rothman L, To T, Buliung R, et al. Influence of social and built environment features on children walking to school: an observational study. Prev Med. 2014;60:10–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Rossen LM, Pollack KM, Curriero FC, et al. Neighborhood Incivilities, Perceived Neighborhood Safety, and Walking to School Among Urban-Dwelling Children. J Phys Act Health. 2011;8(2):262–71.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Stevens RB, Brown BB. Walkable new urban LEED_Neighborhood-Development (LEED-ND) community design and children's physical activity: selection, environmental, or catalyst effects? Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:139.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Su JG, Jerrett M, McConnell R, et al. Factors influencing whether children walk to school. Health Place. 2013;22:153–61.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Tappe KA, Glanz K, Sallis JF, et al. Children's physical activity and parents' perception of the neighborhood environment: neighborhood impact on kids study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013;10:39.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Trapp GSA, Giles-Corti B, Christian HE, et al. On your bike! A cross-sectional study of the individual, social and environmental correlates of cycling to school. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8

  45. Trapp GSA, Giles-Corti B, Christian HE, et al. Increasing children’s physical activity: individual, social, and environmental factors associated with walking to and from school. Health Edu Behav. 2012;39(2):172–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Salmon J, Veitch J, Abbott G, et al. Are associations between the perceived home and neighbourhood environment and children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour moderated by urban/rural location? Health Place. 2013;24:44–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Giles-Corti B, Wood G, Pikora T, et al. School site and the potential to walk to school: the impact of street connectivity and traffic exposure in school neighborhoods. Health Place. 2011;17(2):545–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Remmers T, Broeren SML, Renders CM, et al. A longitudinal study of children's outside play using family environment and perceived physical environment as predictors. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:76.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Remmers T, Van Kann D, Gubbels J, et al. Moderators of the longitudinal relationship between the perceived physical environment and outside play in children: the KOALA birth cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:150.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Aarts M-J, de Vries SI, van Oers HAM, et al. Outdoor play among children in relation to neighborhood characteristics: a cross-sectional neighborhood observation study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012;9.

  51. D’Haese S, Van Dyck D, De Bourdeaudhuij I, et al. The association between objective walkability, neighborhood socio-economic status, and physical activity in Belgian children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11

  52. De Meester F, Van Dyck D, De Bourdeaudhuij I, et al. Parental perceived neighborhood attributes: associations with active transport and physical activity among 10-12 year old children and the mediating role of independent mobility. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:631. Includes a range of physical activity outcomes. Extends current evidence-base by exploring mediating pathways between the neighbourhood environment and physical activity.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Panter J, Corder K, Griffin SJ, et al. Individual, socio-cultural and environmental predictors of uptake and maintenance of active commuting in children: longitudinal results from the SPEEDY study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013;10:83. One of few longitudinal studies examining environmental attributes and a physical activity behaviour. Includes a comprehensive range of determinants from the residential and school neighbourhoods and characteristics of the route to school.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Machado-Rodrigues AM, Santana A, Gama A, et al. Parental perceptions of neighborhood environments, BMI, and active behaviors in girls aged 7-9 years. Am J Hum Biol. 2014;26(5):670–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Gutiérrez-Zornoza M, Sánchez-López M, García-Hermoso A, et al. Active commuting to school, weight status, and cardiometabolic risk in children from rural areas: the Cuenca study. Health Educ Behav. 2015;42(2):231–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Bergh IH, Grydeland M, Bjelland M, et al. Personal and social-environmental correlates of objectively measured physical activity in Norwegian pre-adolescent children. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(6):e315–e24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Giles-Corti B, Timperio A, Bull F, et al. Behavior and context specific ecological models of physical activity. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2005;33(4):175–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Ball K, Timperio AF, Crawford DA. Understanding environmental influences on nutrition and physical activity behaviors: where should we look and what should we count? Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006;3:33.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. D'Haese S, Timperio A, Veitch J, et al. Neighborhood perceptions moderate the association between the family environment and children's objectively assessed physical activity. Health Place. 2013;24:203–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Ghekiere A CC, Veitch J, Salmon J, Deforche B, Timperio A. Does parental accompaniment when walking or cycling moderate the association between physical neighbourhood environment and active transport among 10-12 year olds? J Sci Med Sport. 2015(e-pub ahead of print, 22 Jan).

  61. Foster S, Giles-Corti B. The built environment, neighborhood crime and constrained physical activity: an exploration of inconsistent findings. Prev Med. 2008;47(3):241–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Timperio A, Veitch J, Carver A. Safety in numbers: does perceived safety mediate associations between the neighborhood social environment and physical activity among women living in disadvantaged neighborhoods? Prev Med. 2015;74:49–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Bader MDM, Mooney SJ, Lee YJ, et al. Development and deployment of the Computer Assisted Neighborhood Visual Assessment System (CANVAS) to measure health-related neighborhood conditions. Health Place. 2015;31:163–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Clarke P, Ailshire J, Melendez R, et al. Using Google Earth to conduct a neighborhood audit: reliability of a virtual audit instrument. Health Place. 2010;16(6):1224–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Villanueva K, Giles-Corti B, Bulsara M, et al. How far do children travel from their homes? Exploring children's activity spaces in their neighborhood. Health Place. 2012;18(2):263–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Thornton LE, Pearce JR, Kavanagh AM. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the role of the built environment in influencing obesity: a glossary. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:71.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Chaix B, Meline J, Duncan S, et al. GPS tracking in neighborhood and health studies: a step forward for environmental exposure assessment, a step backward for causal inference? Health Place. 2013;21:46–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Brown BB, Wilson L, Tribby CP, et al. Adding maps (GPS) to accelerometry data to improve study participants' recall of physical activity: a methodological advance in physical activity research. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(13):1054–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Quigg R, Gray A, Reeder AI, et al. Using accelerometers and GPS units to identify the proportion of daily physical activity located in parks with playgrounds in New Zealand children. Prev Med. 2010;50(5/6):235–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Harrison F, Burgoine T, Corder K, et al. How well do modelled routes to school record the environments children are exposed to?: a cross-sectional comparison of GIS-modelled and GPS-measured routes to school. Int J Health Geogr. 2014;13(1):1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Sallis JF, Story M, Lou D. Study designs and analytic strategies for environmental and policy research on obesity, physical activity, and diet: recommendations from a meeting of experts. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(2,Suppl):S72–S7.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Craig P, Cooper C, Gunnell D, et al. Using natural experiments to evaluate population health interventions: New Medical Research Council guidance. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2012;66(12):1182–6.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Anna Timperio is supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Award 100046). Jenny Veitch is supported by an Early Career Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (ID1053426).

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest

Anna Timperio, Jacqueline Reid and Jenny Veitch declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Timperio.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Economy and Environment

Appendix

Appendix

Table 3 Characteristics of studies included in the review and overview of findings

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Timperio, A., Reid, J. & Veitch, J. Playability: Built and Social Environment Features That Promote Physical Activity Within Children. Curr Obes Rep 4, 460–476 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-015-0178-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-015-0178-3

Keywords

Navigation