In a new study, researchers found a link between recreational physical activity spaces in a neighborhood and obesity risk in adults.
A recreational physical activity environment included parks, gyms, swimming pools, even ice rinks.
The study suggests age may be a key factor when analyzing the relationship between an individual’s recreational physical activity environment and obesity.
The study is from the University of Canterbury (UC).
The study tracked 8,864 people over three years in UK.
At its conclusion, it illustrated that if a young adult’s recreational physical activity environment provided opportunities to be physically active, risk of obesity was lower, however this relationship did not exist for older adults.
The study showed that the recreational physical activity environments was related to obesity risk, but only in younger adults.
An individual’s mobility varies with age and older adults are generally less mobile.
While many factors affect mobility, it is plausible that the immediate residential neighborhood environment may play a more important role in an individual’s daily life who remains closer to home.
The team suggests the research is especially important for policymakers, as it offers tentative evidence that supports previous research which suggests that the environment may matter more for certain populations.
This suggests that policymakers in Public Health and Planning need to consider the impact that environmental interventions have across the life course.
Obesity is associated with a range of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and some cancers.
Finding ways to stop people becoming obese is important for public health and for the public purse.
The study is published in Social Science & Medicine .
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
Source: Social Science & Medicine.
