How do type and size of natural environments relate to physical activity behavior?

• Published in: Health & place Vol. 46; pp. 73 - 81
• Main Authors: Jansen, F.M., Ettema, D.F., Kamphuis, C.B.M., Pierik, F.H., Dijst, M.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Accelerometer; Accelerometers; Accelerometry - methods; Adults; Behavior; Bicycles; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cycles; Environment; Environment Design - statistics & numerical data; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Forests; Geographic Information Systems; Global positioning system; Global positioning systems; GPS; Green development; Green space; Health education; Health promotion; Health technology assessment; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Moorland; Natural environment; Netherlands; Parks; Parks & recreation areas; Parks, Recreational - statistics & numerical data; Physical activity; Public health; Recreation areas; Residence Characteristics; Running; Sedentary; Sedentary behavior; Walking; Netherlands; Green space; Accelerometer; Natural environment; Physical activity; Global positioning system
• ISSN: 1353-8292; 1873-2054
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.05.005

Natural environments (NE) are promoted as places that support physical activity (PA), but evidence on PA distribution across various types and sizes of NE is lacking. Accelerometers and GPS-devices measured PA of Dutch general population adults aged 45–65 years (N=279). Five NE types were distinguished: ‘parks’, ‘recreational area’, ‘agricultural green’, ‘forest & moorland’, and ‘blue space’, and four categories of size: 0–3, 3–7, 7–27, and ≥27 ha. Modality (i.e. spatially concentrated PA, walking, jogging, and cycling) and intensity (i.e. sedentary behavior, LPA, and MVPA) of PA varied significantly between NE types. Compared to parks, less sedentary behavior and walking but more spatially concentrated PA was observed in recreational areas and green space. Cycling levels were found to be significantly lower in recreational areas and forest & moorland, but higher in blue space as compared to parks. Larger sized NE (≥7 ha) were associated with higher levels of MVPA, walking, jogging and cycling. Insight in which environments (according to type and size) facilitate PA, contributes to the development of tailored PA promoting interventions with ensuing implications for public health.
•The study describes how type and size of natural environments relate to physical activity.•Adults’ physical activity behavior was measured using GPS-devices and accelerometers.•Different types of natural environments relate to different physical activity modalities and intensities.•An increase in size of natural environment was generally associated with more physical activity.