| dc.description.abstract | Physical activity is an important factor of child growth and is expected to reduce the prevalence of
obesity. However, despite these benefits many youth in Nova Scotia do not meet the
recommended physical activity guidelines defined by the Canadian Government. Thus, there is a
high demand for research that investigates the causes behind variations in levels of physical
activity. One possible explanation of these variations is accessibility to neighbourhood greenness.
Exposure to green environments has shown to have positive health benefits. However, much is
still unknown about the influence neighbourhood greenness has on physical activity in youth. The
objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between access to neighbourhood
greenness and physical activity levels among a sample of youth in Nova Scotia. Physical activity
data was obtained from the study Keeping Pace, conducted in 2009-2010, where accelerometers
were used to measure physical activity levels of 1855 students in grades 3, 7 and 11 across Nova
Scotia. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was used to quantify neighbourhood greenness
and analysis was computed in a geographic information system. Logistic regression models were
used to examine the relationship between neighbourhood greenness and physical activity in youth.
A positive correlation between neighbourhood greenness and achieving physical activity
guidelines was seen at 1.5 km distance from participants home (P-value = 0.049, OR = 1.0004).
Living in a rural or urban area did not have a significant impact on the relationship between
physical activity and neighbourhood greenness. Neighborhood greenness may be an essential
quality of active neighborhoods. Future research should explore the specific dimensions within the
neighbourhood that contribute to greater physical activity and health among youth.
Key words: Physical Activity, Neighbourhood Greenness, Cross Sectional, Geographic Information System (GIS) | en_US |
