Park availability and physical activity, TV time, and overweight and obesity among women: Findings from Australia and the United States

Jenny Veitch; Gavin Abbott; Andrew T Kaczynski; Sonja A Wilhelm Stanis; Gina M Besenyi; Karen E Lamb

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.12.004

Park availability and physical activity, TV time, and overweight and obesity among women: Findings from Australia and the United States

Health Place. 2016 Mar:38:96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.12.004. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Authors

Jenny Veitch¹, Gavin Abbott², Andrew T Kaczynski³, Sonja A Wilhelm Stanis⁴, Gina M Besenyi⁵, Karen E Lamb⁶

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au.
² Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: gavin.abbott@deakin.edu.au.
³ Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, USA. Electronic address: atkaczyn@mailbox.sc.edu.
⁴ Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. Electronic address: sonjaws@missouri.edu.
⁵ Department of Clinical and Digital Health Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University. Electronic address: gbesenyi@gru.edu.
⁶ Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: karen.lamb@deakin.edu.au.

PMID: 26828409
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.12.004

Abstract

This study examined relationships between three measures of park availability and self-reported physical activity (PA), television viewing (TV) time, and overweight/obesity among women from Australia and the United States. Having more parks near home was the only measure of park availability associated with an outcome. Australian women (n=1848) with more parks near home had higher odds of meeting PA recommendations and lower odds of being overweight/obese. In the US sample (n=489), women with more parks near home had lower odds of watching >4h TV per day. A greater number of parks near home was associated with lower BMI among both Australian and US women. Evidence across diverse contexts provides support to improve park availability to promote PA and other health behaviors.

Keywords: Availability; Overweight; Parks; Physical activity; Television viewing time; Women.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Australia / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Motor Activity*
Obesity* / epidemiology
Parks, Recreational / supply & distribution*
Self Report
Television / statistics & numerical data*
United States / epidemiology
Urban Population