Built Environment in Relation Built Environment in Relation to to

Obesity and Physical ActivityObesity and Physical Activity

Fuzhong Li, Ph.D.Fuzhong Li, Ph.D.

Oregon Research InstituteOregon Research Institute

Part II

FocusFocusTo illustrateTo illustrate Through empirical research, how different elements Through empirical research, how different elements

of the built environment contribute to obesity and of the built environment contribute to obesity and physical inactivityphysical inactivity

To discussTo discuss how public health policies and urban planning can how public health policies and urban planning can

address these public health and lifestyle problems address these public health and lifestyle problems and create a living communityand create a living community

Terminology and DefinitionsTerminology and DefinitionsWhat Is the Built Environment?What Is the Built Environment?

Encompasses all of the buildings, Encompasses all of the buildings, spaces, and products created or spaces, and products created or modified by peoplemodified by people

For example: buildings (housing, schools, For example: buildings (housing, schools, workplaces); land use (industrial or workplaces); land use (industrial or residential); public resources (parks, residential); public resources (parks, museums); zoning regulations; museums); zoning regulations; transportation systems. transportation systems.

What is the Built What is the Built Environment?Environment?

Spatial scales:Spatial scales:

Micro Small Intermediate Large

Built Environment in Relation to Built Environment in Relation to Overweight or Obesity, and Physical Overweight or Obesity, and Physical

Activity: Activity: An Ecologic ModelAn Ecologic ModelIndividual factors

Genetics

Socioeconomic Characteristics

Other individual characteristics

Social factors

Family and peer influences

Socioeconomiccharacteristics

Food consumption

(energy intake)

Physical activity (energy expenditure)

Source: Powell et al. (www.impacteen.org)

BMI Environmental factors

Built environment

Economic influences (cost and access)

Neighborhood safety (perceived/objective)

Transportation opportunities

Beh

avio

rs

Beh

avio

rs

Lifestyle/behavioral factors

Built Environment in Relation Built Environment in Relation to Overweight or Obesityto Overweight or Obesity

Association between the number of residents per Association between the number of residents per fast-food restaurant, and the number of square fast-food restaurant, and the number of square miles per fast-food restaurant and the prevalence miles per fast-food restaurant and the prevalence of obesity at the statewide level (Maddock, 2004)of obesity at the statewide level (Maddock, 2004)

Association between the presence of Association between the presence of supermarkets and lower prevalence of obesity and supermarkets and lower prevalence of obesity and overweight; association between presence of overweight; association between presence of convenience stores and high prevalence of convenience stores and high prevalence of obesity and overweight (Mobley et al., 2006)obesity and overweight (Mobley et al., 2006)

Built Environment in Relation to Built Environment in Relation to

Physical ActivityPhysical ActivityFeatures, such as availability and access to Features, such as availability and access to physical activity facilities, street connectivity, physical activity facilities, street connectivity, net residential density, land-use mix, provision net residential density, land-use mix, provision of sidewalks, are associated with increased of sidewalks, are associated with increased levels of physical activity. levels of physical activity.

Social and demographic features, such as Social and demographic features, such as social capital, neighborhood safety, moderate-social capital, neighborhood safety, moderate-socioeconomic status neighborhoods, are socioeconomic status neighborhoods, are associated with increased levels of physical associated with increased levels of physical activity, including walking. activity, including walking.

ImplicationsImplications Design and build healthy placesDesign and build healthy places Make it easier for people to live healthy lives Make it easier for people to live healthy lives

www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/default.htmwww.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/default.htm

Promote mix use of landPromote mix use of land Houses, businesses, schools, public transit, open space less car Houses, businesses, schools, public transit, open space less car

dependent, easily to walk or bikedependent, easily to walk or bike

Foster social capitalFoster social capital Social networking, civic engagement, personal recreation, activities that create Social networking, civic engagement, personal recreation, activities that create

social bounds social bounds

between individuals and groupsbetween individuals and groups

What Is Healthy Community What Is Healthy Community Design?Design?

Decreases dependence on the automobile by Decreases dependence on the automobile by building homes, businesses, schools, churches, building homes, businesses, schools, churches, and parks closer to each other so that people and parks closer to each other so that people can more easily walk or bike between then.can more easily walk or bike between then.Provides opportunities for people to be physical Provides opportunities for people to be physical active and socially engaged as part of their daily active and socially engaged as part of their daily routine, improving the physical and mental routine, improving the physical and mental health of its citizens.health of its citizens.Allows persons, if they choose, to age in place Allows persons, if they choose, to age in place and remain all their lives in a community that and remain all their lives in a community that reflects their changing lifestyles and changing reflects their changing lifestyles and changing physical capabilities.physical capabilities.

What Are the Health Benefits of What Are the Health Benefits of Healthy Community Design?Healthy Community Design?

Promote physical activity Promote physical activity Improve air quality.Improve air quality. Lower risk of injuriesLower risk of injuries Increase social connection and Increase social connection and sense of community.sense of community. Reduce contributions to climate Reduce contributions to climate changechange

What Are Some Healthy What Are Some Healthy Community Design Principles?Community Design Principles?

Encourage mixed land use and greater land density to Encourage mixed land use and greater land density to shorten distances between homes, workplaces, schools shorten distances between homes, workplaces, schools and creation so people can walk or bike more easily to and creation so people can walk or bike more easily to themthemProvide goo mass transits to reduce the dependence upon Provide goo mass transits to reduce the dependence upon automobilesautomobilesBuild good pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, Build good pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, including sidewalks and bike paths that are safely including sidewalks and bike paths that are safely removed from automobile traffic as well as good right of removed from automobile traffic as well as good right of way laws an clear, easy-to-follow signageway laws an clear, easy-to-follow signageEnsure affordable housing is available for people of all Ensure affordable housing is available for people of all income levels.income levels.Create community centers where people can gather and Create community centers where people can gather and mingle as part of their daily activiteismingle as part of their daily activiteisOffer access to green space and parksOffer access to green space and parks

ConclusionConclusion““Designing and building healthy communities Designing and building healthy communities can improve the quality of life for all people can improve the quality of life for all people who live, work, worship, learn, and play within who live, work, worship, learn, and play within their borders – where every person is free to their borders – where every person is free to make choices amid a variety of healthy, make choices amid a variety of healthy, available, accessible, and affordable options.”available, accessible, and affordable options.”CDC – Fact Sheet – Environmental HealthCDC – Fact Sheet – Environmental Health

Put All In PerspectivePut All In Perspective

Creating Healthy CommunitiesCreating Healthy Communities

Transportation alternativesTransportation alternativesReduced drivingReduced drivingOpportunities for physical activityOpportunities for physical activityMixed land useMixed land useDensityDensityParks and green spacesParks and green spacesPlacement of vegetationPlacement of vegetationEnergy efficient buildingsEnergy efficient buildingsClean air and waterClean air and water

What Makes a Neighborhood What Makes a Neighborhood Walkable?Walkable?

A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.

Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.

Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.

Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.

Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back. Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

One-Mile Walk in a Compact Neighborhood

One-Mile Walk in a Compact Neighborhood

One-Mile Walk in a Sprawling Suburb

One-Mile Walk in a Sprawling Suburb

Portland's Most Walkable Neighborhoods - Walk Score Neighborhood Rankings

Walkability in Portland, OregonWalkability in Portland, Oregon

Neighborhood of Neighborhood of Burapha UniversityBurapha University

ThailandThailand

Burapha UniversityBurapha University

Envisioning Change

Potential PartnersPotential PartnersCity and regional City and regional plannersplanners

Developers/buildersDevelopers/builders

Transportation plannersTransportation planners

ArchitectsArchitects

Medical/health Medical/health professionalsprofessionals

Disease advocacy Disease advocacy groupsgroups

Environmental justice Environmental justice organizationsorganizations

Environmental health Environmental health agenciesagencies

Environmental groupsEnvironmental groups

Faith communityFaith community

Economic development Economic development groupsgroups

……and many othersand many others

So That …So That …

Physical activity

Air pollution

And by the way…

Infrastructure costs Social capital

CO2 emissions

Depression

Injuries

Osteoporosis

Contact with trees

Thank you!Thank you! Contact Information:Contact Information: fuzhongl@ori.orgfuzhongl@ori.org 541-484-2123541-484-2123