Leisure sedentary time and physical activity are higher in neighbourhoods with denser greenness and better built environments: an analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

Associations of environmental variables with physical activity and sedentary time using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, and the Canadian Urban Environment Research Consortium (Canadian Active Living Environments (Can-ALE) dataset, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, greenness) dataset) were assessed. The main outcome variables were physical activity and sedentary time as measured by a modified version of the Physical Activity for Elderly Scale. The sample consisted of adults aged 45 and older (n = 36,580, mean age 62.6±10.2, 51% female). Adjusted ordinal regression models consistently demonstrated that those residing in neighbourhoods in the highest Can-ALE category (most well-connected built environment) reported more physical activity and sedentary time. For example, males aged 75+ in the highest Can-ALE category had 1.9 times higher odds of reporting more physical activity (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.1-3.4) and 1.8 higher odds of reporting more sedentary time (OR = 1.8, 95%CI = 1.0-3.4). Neighbourhoods with higher greenness scores were also associated with higher odds of reporting more physical activity and sedentary time. It appears that an environment characterized by higher Can-ALE and higher greenness may facilitate physical activity, but it also facilitates more leisure sedentary time in older adults; research using device measured total sedentary time, and consideration of the types of sedentary activities being performed is needed. 
 Novelty:
 ●Middle-aged and older adults living in neighbourhoods with higher Can-ALE scores and more greenness report more physical activity and leisure sedentary time
 ●Greenness is important for physical activity and sedentary time in middle-aged adults

Greenspace and mortality in the U.K. Biobank: Longitudinal cohort analysis of socio-economic, environmental, and biomarker pathways

“…Previous studies often suggested that participants with more neighborhood greenspace were at lower or equal risk of higher waist-hip ratio and obesity ( Luo et al, 2020 ),( Nichani et al, 2020 ),( O'Callaghan-Gordo et al, 2020 ). Moreover, the existing evidence for association between greenspace and sedentary time was inconsistent: a study in Brazil showed that no association between screen time and greenspace was found ( Parajára et al, 2021 ); a study in Mexico found that greater time in greenspace was associated with decreased sedentary time ( Benjamin-Neelon et al, 2019 ); and another study in Canada found that middle-aged and older adults with more greenspace reported more leisure sedentary time ( Klicnik et al, 2022 ). Here we found that in the U.K., although greenspace could benefit overall health, more greenspace was associated with longer sedentary time and higher risk of obesity.…”

Ageing and Mental Health in Canada: Perspectives from Law, Policy, and Longitudinal Research

“…One early study has suggested that greater urban greenness is associated with superior mental health in the first wave of the CLSA (Abraham Cottagiri et al, 2022). Future research trends in this area will likely: consider additional aspects of the environment as a contributor to mental health; evaluate whether there are longitudinal associations; and identify potential mechanisms that link the environment to mental health, such as behaviours (Klicnik et al, 2022), social connections (Gan et al, 2022), and disease (Grant et al, 2021).…”

Green Space, Physical Activity, and Complete Mental Health: Evidence from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

“…As such, for participants with data collected in 2012 (n = 3,802), the average of 2011 and 2013 NDVI data were used because NDVI values for 2011 and 2013 were significantly different (ts = 8.46 -37.85; ps < .001). This approach is consistent with recent research practices (e.g., Klicnik et al, 2022). Measures of NDVI included: annual mean, growing season mean, and annual maximum values matched to participant postal codes and at 250-, 500-, and 1000-meter buffers from participant postal codes (Browning & Lee, 2017;The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, 2022b, 2022a, 2022c.…”

“…Green space data were provided by CANUE and included 19 measures of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI;CanMap Postal Code Suite, 2015;Gorelick et al, 2017;United States Geological Survey (USGS), 1984b, 1984a, 2013b, 2013a. NDVI is a commonly used measure of ground level green space in epidemiological and health behaviour research (e.g., Crouse et al, 2021;Klicnik et al, 2022;Villeneuve et al, 2012). NDVI provides an estimate of vegetation within specified radii using a mathematical comparison of absorbed visible red light and reflected near-infrared light to produce a value ranging from -1 to 1.…”

“…Although this study has some strengths, there are notable limitations. First, although NDVI is a common measure of ground level green space in epidemiological and health behaviour research (e.g., Crouse et al, 2021;Klicnik et al, 2022;Villeneuve et al, 2012), there are several issues with its use in the current study. For example, NDVI does not differentiate between different land cover and land use categories (e.g., fields, forests, grassland, parks) and does not account for bodies of water in a manner that is accurate enough to include in the current study (Juergens & Meyer-Heß, 2020;Rugel et al, 2017;Weier & Herring, 2000).…”