title: Influence of urban neighbourhood environment on physical activity and obesity-related diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of characteristics of neighbourhood environment on physical activity and obesity-related diseases is still the subject of debate. This study aimed to explore the impact of urban neighbourhood environment on physical activity and obesity-related diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals who participated in the 2009 national health-screening programme, submitted all necessary information, and had lived in Community 1 (Haengdang) or Community 2 (Ilsan) for at least 2 years (n = 16,178) were selected for inclusion in this study. Anthropometric measures were taken and physical activity was assessed using a short questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in the trigger factors for walking, including the amount of neighbourhood park space, number of shopping malls, and distance between the community and shopping malls, was found between the two communities. However, Community 2 had a better street environment than Community 1. Participants who lived in Community 2 were more physically active [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.48] and walked more regularly (adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17) than participants who lived in Community 1, and were less likely to have abdominal obesity (adjusted OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.91), hypertension (adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.97) and diabetes (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-0.99). However, the risk of dyslipidaemia, especially in terms of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, was higher in Community 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that a walkable environment has a positive influence on hypertension and diabetes, and physical activity is the possible mechanism for this association. A walkable environment may function as an important tool for health promotion in urban areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Health Promotion Centre, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Architecture and Graduate Programme of Urban Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Health Promotion Centre, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Health Promotion Centre, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: H-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Health Promotion Centre, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Architecture and Graduate Programme of Urban Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Health Promotion Centre, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, 145 Gwanggyo-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 443-270, Republic of Korea; Institute on Aging, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 71 Ihwajang-Gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-810, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: belong.cho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neighbourhood environment; Obesity; Obesity-related diseases; Physical activity; Walking