The relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment and selected cardiovascular risk factors in a South African urban setting

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence concerning the relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment with cardio-metabolic risk in populations from lower- and middle-income countries is lacking. In this paper, we describe the association between the objectively-measured built environment with body mass index, blood pressure and physical activity in adult South Africans.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 341 adults aged ≥35 years drawn from the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort study. All Cape Town PURE participants were invited to take part in the study. Actigraph GT3X accelerometer and Geographic Information Systems were used to measure physical activity and built environment attributes (community center, shopping center and taxi rank).ResultsIn age and sex adjusted models (reference 500 m), access to community centers (1000 m) was positively related to body mass index [beta 4.70 (95%CI: 2.06 to 7.34)] and diastolic blood pressure [4.97 (0.00 to 9.95)]. Distance from a community center (1600 m) was positively related to diastolic blood pressure [6.58 (1.57 to 11.58)] and inversely with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [− 69.30 (− 134.92 to − 3.70)]. Distance to a shopping center (1600 m) was positively related to body mass index [4.78 (1.11 to 8.45)] and shopping center (1000 m) was positively related to systolic blood pressure respectively [76.99 (0.03 to 83.95)].ConclusionDistance to community and shopping centers were significantly associated with BMI, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Future research should include multiple aspects of built environment variables in order to provide for a broader understanding of their effect on cardiovascular risk profile of African populations.

Association of Built Environment with Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Men and Women Living inside the City Wall of Xi’an, China

“…BE was not associated with the adiposity of women. Previous research has shown that a more activity-supportive BE and a higher level of PA were related to a lower probability of obesity [ 27 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. However, our results were mixed in a different dimension of BE between men and women.…”

“…Previous studies have also confirmed the relationship between BE and BP. With more public places nearby, such as bus stations, subway stations, et cetera, residents may prefer walking or riding bicycles, accumulate more PA, and thus the risk of hypertension may be lower [ 41 , 49 ]. However, residential density was not associated with PA in women according to our analyses.…”

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to low levels of physical activity in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012

“…[34][35][36] In addition, studies in SA have shown an association between physical activity and attributes of the built environment, including aesthetics such as the presence of trees and attractive sights, proximity to transport hubs, feelings of personal safety and social cohesion, walking and cycling facilities and freedom from litter. [37][38][39][40][41] These built-environmental factors are inequitably distributed and especially lacking in lower socioeconomic areas, and contribute to the high rates of physical inactivity. [37] The cause of the downward trend in the prevalence of physical inactivity for SA needs exploring, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation, increased use of motorised transport and crime, all of which have been shown to be associated with increased prevalence of physical inactivity.…”

Making the case for ‘physical activity security’: the 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour from a Global South perspective

“…Estelle Victoria Lambert , 1 Tracy Kolbe-Alexander, 1,2 Deepti Adlakha, 3 Adewale Oyeyemi, 4 Nana Kwame Anokye, 5 Shifalika Goenka, 6 Patricia Mogrovejo, 7 Deborah Salvo 8…”