Health Reports
A Canadian peer-reviewed journal of population health and health services research
September 2019
The association between walkable neighbourhoods and physical activity across the lifespan
by Rachel C. Colley, Tanya Christidis, Isabelle Michaud, Michael Tjepkema and Nancy A. Ross
Physical activity is positively associated with a wide range of physical, psychological, social and cognitive health outcomes in children, youth and adults. The most recent national statistics indicate that the majority of Canadians do not achieve the recommended levels of physical activity and that levels of physical activity have remained stable over the past decade. The need to increase levels of physical activity among the population has resulted in calls to identify features of the built environment that contribute positively to physical activity and health. The activity friendliness of a neighbourhood is commonly assessed using walkability, which is a measure of how well a neighbourhood’s built form promotes walking. Walkability generally consists of multiple subcomponents, including proximity to destinations of interest (e.g., shops, services, workplaces, schools), street connectivity (number of intersections, route options, directness of routes) and residential density (which can support destinations of interest). A newly developed walkability index—the Canadian Active Living Environments (Can-ALE) database—is a geography-based set of measures that represents the active living friendliness or walkability of Canadian communities.
Abstract Full article PDF version The Daily release
Related articles
The association between walkable neighbourhoods and physical activity across the lifespan
- Clarke J, Colley RC, Janssen I, Tremblay MS. Accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of Canadian adults, 2007 to 2017. Health Reports 2019; 30(8): 3-10.
- Colley RC, Butler G, Garriguet D, et al. Comparison of self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity in Canadian youth. Health Reports 2019; 30(7): 3-13.
- Herrmann T, Gleckner W, Wasfi RA, et al. A pan-Canadian measure of active living environments using open data. Health Reports 2019; 30(5): 16-25.
- Colley RC, Butler G, Garriguet D, et al. Comparison of self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity in Canadian adults. Health Reports 2018; 29(12): 3-15.
An examination of the associations between walkable neighbourhoods and obesity and self-rated health in Canadians
by Rachel C. Colley, Tanya Christidis, Isabelle Michaud, Michael Tjepkema and Nancy A. Ross
Two-thirds of Canadian adults and one-third of Canadian children and youth are overweight or obese. The modest success of individual-level programs and interventions (i.e., healthy eating and physical activity) aimed at altering the behaviours that contribute to obesity has led to increased interest in changing the physical environment in a way that helps individuals make better lifestyle choices. The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2017, Designing Healthy Living, drew attention to the potential impact of using the built environment to help Canadians make healthier choices. Similarly, one of the key tenets of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion is the need to create supportive environments to help individuals respond to a rapidly changing environment and increasing urbanization. The activity friendliness of a neighbourhood is commonly assessed using walkability, which is a measure of how well a neighbourhood’s built form promotes walking and generally consists of multiple subcomponents, including proximity to destinations of interest (e.g., shops, services, workplaces, schools), street connectivity (number of intersections, route options, directness of routes) and residential density (which can support destinations of interest). The Canadian Active Living Environments (Can-ALE) database is a new geography-based set of measures that represents the active living friendliness of Canadian communities.
Abstract Full article PDF version The Daily release
Related articles
An examination of the associations between walkable neighbourhoods and obesity and self-rated health in Canadians
- Chiu M, Shah BR, Maclagan LC, et al. Walk Score® and the prevalence of utilitarian walking and obesity among Ontario adults: A cross-sectional study. Health Reports 2015; 26(7): 3-10.
- Seliske L, Pickett W, Janssen I. Urban sprawl and its relationship with active transportation, physical activity and obesity in Canadian youth. Health Reports 2012; 23(2): 17-25.
- Date modified: