Association between Urban Built Environments and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity of Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Study in Shanghai, China.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the built environment and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents aged 14−16 years. This study used a cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate the relationship between the urban built environment and adolescents’ MVPA in Shanghai, China. A total of 517 adolescents (275 boys and 242 girls) aged 14−17 years were recruited in Shanghai, China. Geographic information system technology was used to collect data on the built environment variables of the residential areas assessed. ActiGraphGT3X+ was used to monitor the physical activity of the adolescents at two time points (T1 and T2) spanning 2 years. The correlations between the T1 and T2 built environment variables were significant (r = 0.54−0.65, p < 0.05), and the T2 built environment was significantly better than the T1 built environment. The correlation between the T1 and T2 MVPA was significant (r = 0.28−0.56, p < 0.05), and the T2 weekend MVPA was higher than the T1 weekend MVPA. The T1 built environment could not predict the T2 weekday MVPA (β = 0.17, p > 0.05), but it positively predicted the T2 weekend MVPA (β = 0.24, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the urban built environment significantly affected weekend MVPA among adolescents.