Built environment interventions and physical activity levels: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION

Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and physical activity is a key preventive strategy to reduce them. There is a relationship between the built environment and the practice of physical activity, but little evidence as to whether those built environment interventions not initially designed for promoting physical activity actually have an impact on promoting the behavior.

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether such built environment interventions were able to change physical activity in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of interventions targeting modifications to the built environment changes in urban areas.

RESULTS

Out of 5,605 articles reviewed, only seven met our inclusion criteria. The seven studies found higher levels of physical activity after the interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend greater specificity regarding the study design, the timeline of interventions implementation and post-intervention measurements, as well as the use of more objective measures. Finally, we point out the need to make more explicit the mechanisms of change related to the interventions assessed.