title: Physical Activity Design Guidelines for School Architecture.
abstract: Increasing children's physical activity at school is a national focus in the U.S. to address childhood obesity. While research has demonstrated associations between aspects of school environments and students' physical activity, the literature currently lacks a synthesis of evidence to serve as a practical, spatially-organized resource for school designers and decision-makers, as well as to point to pertinent research opportunities. This paper describes the development of a new practical tool: Physical Activity Design Guidelines for School Architecture. Its aims are to provide architects and designers, as well as school planners, educators, and public health professionals, with strategies for making K-12 school environments conducive to healthy physical activity, and to engage scientists in transdisciplinary perspectives toward improved knowledge of the school environment's impact. We used a qualitative review process to develop evidence-based and theory-driven school design guidelines that promote increased physical activity among students. The design guidelines include specific strategies in 10 school design domains. Implementation of the guidelines is expected to enable students to adopt healthier physical activity behaviors. The tool bridges a translational gap between research and environmental design practice, and may contribute to setting new industry and education standards.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, Omaha, NE, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brittin
authors.affiliation: VMDO Architects, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trowbridge
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Posture and Mobilisation Support, Wiesbaden, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breithecker
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, Omaha, NE, United States of America; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Center for Health Equity, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frerichs
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, Omaha, NE, United States of America; City University of New York, School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001108:Architecture / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011634:Public Health; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013334:Students