Research
Adherence
Built environment interventions that improve active transportation infrastructure (bike lanes, trails, light rail) increase process outcomes (cycling rates, walking volume) but do not consistently increase total physical activity or reduce BMI.
Invest in bike lanes and trails to increase cycling and walking for transport, but do not expect this to significantly lower BMI or obesity rates on its own. Combine with dietary interventions for weight management.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Physical activity-related studies generally found stronger impacts when the intervention involved improvements to active transportation infrastructure... Only three studies directly assessed body mass index or weight, and only one (installing light-rail system) observed a significant effect.
Why this rating
Systematic review of 17 physical activity studies; strong designs show expected results for process outcomes.
Source
Impact of policy and built environment changes on obesity‐related outcomes: a systematic review of naturally occurring experiments
Stephanie L. Mayne et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2015
systematic_reviewCited 299×
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