Creating active environments across the life course: "thinking outside the square"

British Journal of Sports Medicine
B Giles-Corti, A C King

Abstract

The built environment and physical activity agenda provides a unique opportunity for public health, physical activity and planning researchers to be front and centre of a movement aimed at creating healthier and more sustainable environments. However, in order to optimise environments that encourage physical activity across the life course, researchers in this field need to think beyond their "square" -that is, the target group, setting and physical activity behaviour with which they work. We suggest that researchers working in this field need a better understanding of systems theory to appreciate that a change to one part of a complex system can positively and negatively influence other parts of the system. An understanding of systems theory would help minimise unintended negative consequences to other population subgroups or to other types of physical activity from the implementation of our research findings. In this way, a more comprehensive set of research, practice and programme-related activities may emerge, which will advance physical activity research and practice, and improve population health across the life course.

Citations

Feb 23, 2010·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Angie S PageRussell Jago
Jun 3, 2011·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Hayley E ChristianBillie Giles-Corti
Jul 7, 2009·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Dick SaarloosHarry Timmermans
Oct 9, 2014·International Journal of Medical Informatics·Daniela Haluza, David Jungwirth
Jul 27, 2010·Gait & Posture·Gunilla DahlgrenSuzanne M McDonough
Jun 20, 2014·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Aristides M Machado-RodriguesCristina Padez
Dec 18, 2012·British Journal of Sports Medicine·Catharine Ward ThompsonAffonso Zuin
Oct 17, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Maura M KepperStephanie T Broyles
Oct 7, 2021·Scientific Reports·Hua ZhaoKai Zhang

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