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. 2006 Feb;3(s1):S55-S76.
doi: 10.1123/jpah.3.s1.s55.

The Effectiveness of Urban Design and Land Use and Transport Policies and Practices to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

Gregory W Heath, Ross C Brownson, Judy Kruger, Rebecca Miles, Kenneth E Powell, Leigh T Ramsey; Task Force on Community Preventive Services

The Effectiveness of Urban Design and Land Use and Transport Policies and Practices to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

Gregory W Heath et al. J Phys Act Health. 2006 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Although a number of environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity are being widely used, there is sparse systematic information on the most effective approaches to guide population-wide interventions.

Methods: We reviewed studies that addressed the following environmental and policy strategies to promote physical activity: community-scale urban design and land use policies and practices to increase physical activity; street-scale urban design and land use policies to increase physical activity; and transportation and travel policies and practices. These systematic reviews were based on the methods of the independent Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Exposure variables were classified according to the types of infrastructures/policies present in each study. Measures of physical activity behavior were used to assess effectiveness.

Results: Two interventions were effective in promoting physical activity (community-scale and street-scale urban design and land use policies and practices). Additional information about applicability, other effects, and barriers to implementation are provided for these interventions. Evidence is insufficient to assess transportation policy and practices to promote physical activity.

Conclusions: Because community- and street-scale urban design and land-use policies and practices met the Community Guide criteria for being effective physical activity interventions, implementing these policies and practices at the community-level should be a priority of public health practitioners and community decision makers.

Keywords: decision making; economics; evidence-based medicine; exercise; leisure activities; meta-analysis; physical endurance; physical fitness; preventive health services; public health practice; review literature; urban planning.

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