Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roy P. Remme, Howard Frumkin, Anne D. Guerry, Abby C. King, Lisa Mandle, Chethan Sarabu, Gregory N. Bratman, Billie Giles-Corti, Perrine Hamel, Baolong Han, Jennifer L. Hicks, Peter James, Joshua J. Lawler, Therese Lindahl, Hongxiao Liu, Yi Lu, Bram Oosterbroek, Bibek Paudel, James F. Sallis, Jasper Schipperijn, Rok Sosic, Sjerp de Vries, Benedict W. Wheeler, Spencer A. Wood, Tong Wu, Gretchen C. Daily
Summary: Nature plays a critical role in promoting human well-being, particularly in densely populated urban areas where access to nature is limited. Research is focused on clarifying how nature can enhance physical activity and contribute to mental and physical health benefits. By developing a spatial decision-support tool, it is possible to understand how urban nature promotes physical activity and inform urban greening efforts and health assessments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kwadwo Boakye, Marit Bovbjerg, John Schuna, Adam Branscum, Ravi Prasad Varma, Rosnah Ismail, Olga Barbarash, Juan Dominguez, Yuksel Altuntas, Ranjit Mohan Anjana, Rita Yusuf, Roya Kelishadi, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo, Romaina Iqbal, Pamela Seron, Annika Rosengren, Paul Poirier, P. V. M. Lakshmi, Rasha Khatib, Katarzyna Zatonska, Bo Hu, Lu Yin, Chuangshi Wang, Karen Yeates, Jephat Chifamba, Khalid F. Alhabib, lvaro Avezum, Antonio Dans, Scott A. Lear, Salim Yusuf, Perry Hystad
Summary: This study evaluated the associations between urbanization levels and physical activity levels, and found that higher population density and impervious surface area were associated with lower total physical activity levels. Important differences in the associations were observed between activity domains, country income levels, urban/rural status, and sex.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kwadwo Boakye, Marit Bovbjerg, John Schuna Jr, Adam Branscum, Ravi Prasad Varma, Rosnah Ismail, Olga Barbarash, Juan Dominguez, Yuksel Altuntas, Ranjit Mohan Anjana, Rita Yusuf, Roya Kelishadi, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo, Romaina Iqbal, Pamela Seron, Annika Rosengren, Paul Poirier, P. V. M. Lakshmi, Rasha Khatib, Katarzyna Zatonska, Bo Hu, Lu Yin, Chuangshi Wang, Karen Yeates, Jephat Chifamba, Khalid F. Alhabib, Alvaro Avezum, Antonio Dans, Scott A. Lear, Salim Yusuf, Perry Hystad
Summary: This study evaluated the association between urbanization and physical activity (PA) levels in 138,206 adults living in 698 communities across 22 countries. The findings showed that higher levels of urbanization were associated with lower overall PA levels. Important differences were observed in the associations between urbanization and PA across different PA domains, country-income levels, urban/rural status, and sex.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lindsey L. Page, Christina J. Kahn, Joan Severson, Arthur F. Kramer, Edward McAuley, Diane K. Ehlers
Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that rural breast cancer survivors may experience greater burden in symptoms known to be associated with cancer-associated cognitive decline. This study examined differences in cognitive function, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and other CACD correlates between rural and urban breast cancer survivors, and tested the effects of MVPA on cognitive function.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Henrique Brito, Eric Brymer, Duarte Araujo
Summary: This article examines the impact of urban nature environments on health and well-being, focusing on aspects such as urban parks, sidewalks, and the presence of nature. Through a review and theoretical analysis, suggestions are provided for urban designers and planners to promote physical activity and health, as well as guidance for exercise and health researchers to facilitate individuals' interaction with nature in interventions and programs.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antonio Moreno-Llamas, Jesfis Garcia-Mayor, Ernesto De la Cruz-Sanchez
Summary: The differences in physical activity between urban and rural areas varied greatly among the 28 EU countries, with inactivity increasing in both settings but being higher in rural areas. The urban-rural gap decreased and was even eliminated in some countries, with national changes driven largely by urban areas and minimal contribution from urbanization.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leyang Liu, Barnaby Dobson, Ana Mijic
Summary: This study develops an integrated urban-rural NBS planning optimization framework based on the CatchWat-SD model, which demonstrates the potential benefits of nature-based solutions for water availability, water quality, and flood management. Results show that rural NBS have a significant impact on the catchment and their effectiveness increases with scale. Integrated urban-rural NBS planning can simultaneously improve water availability, water quality, and flood management, although trade-offs exist between different objectives.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucy-Joy Wachira, Sylvester O. Hayker, Richard Larouche, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, Antonio Prista, George E. Owino, Mark S. Tremblay, Vincent O. Onywera
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of active transportation (AT) and device-measured physical activity (PA) among children living in urban, peri-urban and rural areas in three African countries. The majority of children engaged in AT, but failed to meet physical activity recommendations. Correlates of AT and PA varied between countries, suggesting the need for country-specific strategies to encourage these behaviors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baishi Huang, Tong Xiao, George Grekousis, Hongsheng Zhao, Jiarui He, Guanghui Dong, Ye Liu
Summary: Higher residential greenness is directly related to a lower prevalence of hypertension among middle and older aged adults in rural China but not in urban areas. In urban areas, the association of greenness with hypertension is completely mediated by PM2.5 concentrations, while in rural areas, it is partially mediated by PM2.5 concentrations, PM2.5 concentrations-physical activity path, and other factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Christopher D. Pfledderer, Ryan D. Burns, Wonwoo Byun, Russell L. Carson, Gregory J. Welk, Timothy A. Brusseau
Summary: School-based interventions can marginally increase daily physical activity in children and adolescents, but no significant effect was observed for interventions implemented in rural settings.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chelsea Pelletier, Nicole White, Annie Duchesne, Larine Sluggett
Summary: This study compares the differences in physical activity between rural and urban areas across different domains, and finds that rural residents are more likely to engage in occupational or household physical activity, while urban residents are more likely to participate in transportation activities.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chelsea A. Pelletier, Nicole White, Annie Duchesne, Larine Sluggett
Summary: The study compared the odds of reporting individual and environmental barriers to physical activity in rural and urban adults and found that rural residents were more likely to report social and built environmental barriers, while urban residents were more likely to report barriers to facility access and a lack of social support. Urban residents also reported lower preference, enjoyment, and confidence in engaging in physical activity compared to rural residents.
SSM-POPULATION HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mario Cozzi, Carmelina Prete, Mauro Viccaro, Frans Sijtsma, Paolo Veneri, Severino Romano
Summary: The study provides empirical evidence demonstrating the significant relationship between urban and rural areas in Italy, with a focus on natural amenities. The research identifies rural clusters that serve as hubs for urban well-being, shedding light on the often neglected urban-rural connection.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrew C. Pickett, Maria Bowie, Alison Berg, Samuel D. Towne, Stephanie Hollifield, Matthew Lee Smith
Summary: Web-based solutions have the potential to bridge the physical activity gap between rural and urban areas. Despite similar levels of physical activity by time, users in nonmetropolitan areas engage in less rigorous and more maintenance-based tasks compared to users in metropolitan areas.
PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jethro Banda, Christopher Bunn, Amelia C. Crampin, Jason M. R. Gill, Cindy M. Gray
Summary: This study aimed to compare and contrast attitudes towards physical activity among Malawian men and women (previously identified as having pre-diabetes) in urban and rural settings. The findings showed that participants engaged in different types of physical activity across various domains. It is important to implement multilevel interventions to improve physical activity levels in Malawi.
Article
Sport Sciences
Alan M. Nevill, Roger Ramsbottom, Gavin Sandercock, Carlos Eduardo Bocachica-Gonzalez, Robinson Ramirez-Velez, Grant Tomkinson
Summary: The study found that using allometric models can provide more accurate predictions of cardiorespiratory fitness for both youth and adults, and also provide evidence of construct validity.
Article
Rehabilitation
Garyfallia Pepera, Savvas Hadjiandrea, Ilias Iliadis, Gavin R. H. Sandercock, Ladislav Batalik
Summary: This study investigates the associations between fatness, hemodynamic characteristics, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in primary school-aged children. The results show that children with normal BMI tend to have better CRF performance than obese and overweight children. Sedentary behavior is also associated with lower CRF in primary school-aged children.
BMC SPORTS SCIENCE MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Sally P. Waterworth, Catherine J. Kerr, Christopher J. McManus, Rianne Costello, Gavin R. H. Sandercock
Summary: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of misreporting in obese and nonobese adults on an absolute, ratio-scaled, and allometrically-scaled basis. The results showed that obese individuals do not underreport dietary intake to a greater extent than nonobese individuals.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Daniel Dylan Cohen, Javier Carreno, Paul Anthony Camacho, Johanna Otero, Daniel Martinez, Jose Lopez-Lopez, Gavin R. Sandercock, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo
Summary: The study assessed the efficacy of a supervised in-school combined resistance and aerobic training program in adolescent girls and found that birthweight had an impact on the outcomes. The results showed that replacing curriculum physical education with supervised training improved muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition outcomes in adolescent females, with greater improvements seen in participants with lower birthweight.
PEDIATRIC EXERCISE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gavin R. H. Sandercock, Jason Moran, Daniel D. Cohen
Summary: According to the current UK physical activity guidelines, it is recommended that adults aged 19 to 65 years engage in strength-boosting activities at least twice a week. However, the actual number of adults meeting these guidelines is lower compared to aerobic activity, and this discrepancy can be attributed to the different definitions of strengthening activity and individual factors.
Review
Psychology, Applied
Claire Wicks, Jo Barton, Sheina Orbell, Leanne Andrews
Summary: Outdoor physical activity in natural environments has more positive effects on psychological outcomes compared to urban environments. The varying effect sizes in the meta-analyses may be due to different mechanisms of psychological gains experienced during nature-based physical activities.
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY-HEALTH AND WELL BEING
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Carly Wood, Claire Wicks, Jo Barton
Summary: Studies suggest that access to local green spaces is associated with better mental health, and nature-based interventions and green social prescriptions can effectively promote mental health and reduce the occurrence of mental illness.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carly J. Wood, Jo L. Barton, Claire L. Wicks
Summary: This study found that therapeutic community gardening can improve and maintain the wellbeing of individuals with mental illness, even when wellbeing is deteriorating nationally. There were differences in wellbeing levels between males and females at different time points.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carly J. Wood, Marie Polley, Jo L. Barton, Claire L. Wicks
Summary: Therapeutic community gardening, as a form of green social prescription, has positive impacts on mental health by engaging individuals with nature and the outdoors, providing hope, and facilitating social relationships. However, barriers related to awareness and accessibility need to be overcome for increased accessibility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Osama Aljuhani, Rola Alsuwailem, Abdulelah Al-Salawi, Gavin Sandercock
Summary: This study assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in the family context during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a correlation between children and parents' activity levels and highlighting the effectiveness of multi-level interventions compared to single group interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nina Smyth, Lisa Thorn, Carly Wood, Dominic Hall, Craig Lister
Summary: This study examines the impact of engaging in nature-based activities on wellbeing. The findings suggest that participating in Green Gym activities leads to significant increases in wellbeing, which can last for a considerable amount of time. Those who continued to engage in Green Gym activities tended to be more deprived, while those who did not continue were typically younger and less deprived.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Carly J. Wood, Jo Barton, Nina Smyth
Summary: The study found that people who perceived physical activity as less important engaged in less physical activity, had lower levels of wellbeing, and experienced more severe depression and anxiety. Therefore, measures should be taken to increase physical activity levels to address the impact of the pandemic.
JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)