Perceptions of the Built Environment in Relation to Physical Activity and Weight Status in British Adolescents from Central England

Abstract EN

The built environment may influence physical activity (PA) behaviour in young people.

However, there is a dearth of data examining this issue in young people which considers weight status, physical activity, and environmental perceptions in the same analysis.

Four hundred and five Year 10 pupils (223 boys, 182 girls, mean age ± S.D.=14.8±0.6 years), from central England, completed self-report measures of PA and perceptions of the built environment.

Additionally, body mass index (BMI) was determined from height and weight.

PA (MET/Min week−1) was positively related to environmental perceptions (P=0.0001) and negatively related to BMI (P=0.0001).

PA was significantly greater in boys (P=0.025) and normal weight children compared to girls and overweight/obese children, respectively (P=0.01).

Perception of the built environment was significant as a covariate (P=0.0001) with a one-unit increase on this measure associated with a 141 MET/Min week−1 increase in PA.

This study, therefore, supports claims that the built environment, and perceptions of it, can have an impact on health indices.