Neighborhoods Are A Factor In Exercise Levels
A study performed by the Ohio State University has shown that the type of neighborhood you live in influences how physically active you are.
The researchers examined exercise levels of 8,782 residents of 373 different neighborhoods in Chicago. They also used statistics from three sources from the 1990s: the Metropolitan Chicago Information Center Metro Survey, the 1990 U.S. Census, and the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods Survey.
They found that those who live in neighborhoods with higher levels of poverty, lower education, and more female-headed families are less likely to exercise than other neighborhoods. The social and economic characteristics of a neighborhood were the most important aspects in influencing the physical activity of the residents.
They also found that the neighborhood’s environment was more important for women than for men in determining how much they exercised.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that levels of trust between neighbors, perceived violence, and thoughts that neighbors help each other also factored into how much people exercised in their communities.
The researchers mentioned that other studies have shown that exercise levels can be increased by creating nice parks, adding sidewalks, and building recreation centers. However, they suggest that the social environment be considered along with the physical components.
This is an interesting study and may be useful for city planners of up-and-coming cities. It really does make a lot of sense. People need to feel comfortable with their exercise environments. It can be difficult enough to exercise, and if someone feels unsafe or even lives near unhelpful neighbors, he or she will not want to exercise there.
Reference: Ohio State University, Operation Boot Camp (image)
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