Association between the perceived environment and physical activity among adults in Latin America: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundActivity friendly environments have been identified as promising strategies to increase physical activity levels in the population. Associations between perceived environmental attributes and physical activity in Latin America may vary from those observed in high income countries. The objective of this systematic review is to identify which perceived environmental attributes are associated with physical activity in Latin America.MethodsSystematic literature search of articles published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish in four databases was conducted (PubMed, Virtual Health Library, EBSCO, and Web of Science). Associations with environmental attributes were analyzed separately for physical activity domains. Fifteen articles were included in the analysis.ResultsAll studies had cross-sectional designs. The majority of associations were statistically non-significant, and only four associations were found in the unexpected direction. Leisure-time and transport-related physical activity were the domains most frequently included in the studies and had higher number of associations in the expected direction. Leisure-time physical activity showed a convincing association in the expected direction with safety during the day. Transport-related physical activity had a convincing association with presence of street lighting.ConclusionsThis study shows that perceived environmental attributes and their relationship with physical activity appears to be domain, and context specific. In addition, findings from this study show inconsistencies with the information gathered from high-income countries.

Domínios de atividade física e escolaridade em São Paulo, Brasil: estudo transversal seriado, 2003 e 2008

“…Programas e políticas de incentivo à prática de atividade física devem considerar as diferenças socioeconômicas da população. Intervenções em ambientes públicos, as quais ofereçam instalações de fácil acesso e orientação adequada, modificam a escolha das pessoas em relação à atividade física 51 . A redução de barreiras físicas, psicológi-cas e financeiras associadas à atividade física no lazer poderia ser obtida com a maior oferta de espaços públicos adequados 51,52 .…”

Associations between time spent traveling in motor vehicles and physical activity in Colombian adults from urban areas

“…This reduces the chance of females using active transportation as a mobility choice, leading to greater use of motor vehicles. With regard to urbanization levels, higher diversity and short walking distances to destinations that are characteristic of low urbanized areas and small cities, have been found to be positively associated with active commuting in Latin American countries 33 .…”

Characteristics of the environmental microscale and walking and bicycling for transportation among adults in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil

“…Other studies have shown the positive effect of environmental changes on commuting behavior 12,13,14,15 . However, a large share of the evidence comes from studies in high-income countries, which may not represent the urban and sociocultural characteristics of lower-income countries like those of Latin America 3,6,7 .…”

“…This can be partly attributed to the increase in motor vehicles, chaotic urbanization, and precarious public safety and security that affect the way people commute on a daily basis 2,3,4 . These and other characteristics have been widely studied at different scales of influence by the built environment in cities (micro, meso, and macro), especially the scales related to transportationrelated physical activity 4,5,6,7 .…”

“…In Brazil, different methodologies have been used to explore the association between variables from the built environment, such as "walkability" and transportation-related physical activity in adults 3,7,16,17,18,19 , while several characteristics vary according to the neighborhood's socioeconomic level 20,21 . However, a recent review failed to identify studies that used systematic observation of environment for this evaluation in adults 19 .…”