Elsevier

Health & Place

Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 100-105
Health & Place

Review Essay
Built environment, physical activity, and obesity: What have we learned from reviewing the literature?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.08.021Get rights and content
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Abstract

To evaluate the growing literature on the built environment and physical activity/obesity, we conducted a review of review papers. Through a systematic search, we identified 36 reviews that met the inclusion criteria and evaluated these reviews based on key information provided, review methodology, and specificity regarding measurement. We also analyzed research gaps and areas of improvement identified by previous reviews and propose a research agenda. Future studies should develop complex conceptual and statistical models that include moderators and mediators, improve objective and perceived measures of the built environment, and strengthen evidence of causality through better research designs.

Keywords

Built environment
Physical activity
Obesity
Review

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