Co-benefits of physical activity

Background: The growth of urban dwelling populations globally has led to rapid increases of research and policy initiatives addressing associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA). Given this rapid proliferation, it is important to identify priority areas and research questions for moving the field forward. Purpose: To identify and compare research priorities on the built environment and PA among researchers and knowledge users (e.g., policy makers, practitioners). Methods: Between September 2022 and April 2023, a three-round, modified Delphi survey was conducted among two independent panels of international researchers (n = 38) and knowledge users (n = 23) to identify similarities and differences in perceived research priorities on the built environment and PA and generate twin ‘top 10’ lists of the most important research needs. Results: From a broad range of self-identified issues, both panels ranked in common the most pressing research priorities including stronger study designs such as natural experiments, research that examines inequalities and inequities, establishing the cost effectiveness of interventions, safety and injuries related to engagement in active transportation (AT), and considerations for climate change and climate adaptation. Additional priorities identified by researchers included: implementation science, research that incorporates Indigenous perspectives, land-use policies, built environments that support active aging, and participatory research. Additional priorities identified by knowledge users included: built environments and PA among people living with disabilities and a need for national data on trip chaining, multi-modal travel, and non-work or school-related AT. Conclusions: Five common research priorities between the two groups emerged, including (1) to better understand causality, (2) interactions with the natural environment, (3) economic evaluations, (4) social disparities, and (5) preventable AT-related injuries. Practical implications: The findings may help set directions for future research, interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaborations, and funding opportunities. Funding: none

Background: In the transport sector, efforts to achieve carbon neutrality may generate public health cobenefits by promoting physical activity. Purpose: This study aims to quantify the health impacts related to active transportation based on four different scenarios leading France toward carbon neutrality in 2050. Methods: The French Agency for Ecological Transition developed four consistent and contrasting scenarios (S1 to S4) achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 as well as a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario that extends our current lifestyles until 2050, without reaching net-zero. For each of these Transitions2050 scenarios, we distributed the mobility demand for walking, cycling and e-cycling across age groups. Relying on the health impact assessment framework, we quantified the impacts of the corresponding physical activity on all-cause mortality. The impact of each of the carbon neutrality scenarios was determined by comparison with estimates from the BAU scenario. Results: In S1 and S2 scenarios, volumes of active transportation are projected to increase to fulfil the World Health Organisations recommendations by 2050, while they increase slightly in S3 and decrease in S4. S2 scenario reaches the highest levels of health cobenefits, with 494,000 deaths prevented between 2021 and 2050. This would translate into a life expectancy gain of 3.0 months for the general population in 2050, mainly driven by e-bikes. S1 would provide smaller but important health benefits, while these benefits would be modest for S3. On the contrary, S4 implies 52,000 additional deaths as compared to the BAU scenario, and a loss of 0.2 month in life expectancy. Conclusions: Directing transportation towards active modes would yield significant health co-benefits while relying on technological interventions may exacerbate the lack of physical activity in the population. Practical implications: This study illustrates how the public health dimension may provide a relevant insight in choices of collective transformation toward net-zero societies. Funding: None

Background: Calls to action addressing the interconnections between physical (in)activity and the climate crisis are increasing. The current study aimed to investigate public support for GAPPA policy actions that potentially have co-benefits for physical activity promotion and climate change mitigation. Methods: In 2023, a survey through the Angus Reid Forum was completed by 2507 adults living in Canada. Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Separate models were created to reflect support or opposition to the 8 included policy items. Several covariates were included in the models including age, gender, political orientation, physical activity levels, income, urbanicity climate anxiety, and attitudes surrounding physical activity and climate change. The data were weighted to reflect the gender, age, and regional composition of the country. Results: Most individuals living in Canada strongly or moderately supported all actions (ranging from 71% to 85%). Meeting the physical activity guidelines, higher self-reported income, and scoring high on personal experience of climate change were associated with higher odds of supporting the policy actions related to climate actions. Political orientation was found to have a consistent and strong association with policy support. Individuals identifying as center or conservative-leaning were more likely to oppose the policies than those identifying as liberal. Conclusions: Most adults living in Canada support policies that align with the recommended policy actions related to physical activity and climate change. National campaigns enhancing awareness and understanding of the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and climate change are warranted, and these should consider the consistent demographic differences (e.g., gender, age, and political orientation) seen in public support for physical activity-related policies. Funding: MJF was supported by a Mitacs Accelerate award.

Background: Political orientation may influence individuals’ perceptions, ideologies, opinions, and policy support related to public health challenges. Purpose: To examine the implications of political orientation and ideology on physical activity (PA) and climate change in Canada. Methods: Social Climate Survey 2.0 (2023) commissioned by ParticipACTION—a non-profit organization dedicated to PA promotion in Canada—were used. Political orientation (liberal, centrist, conservative), seriousness of physical inactivity, PA guidelines adherence (≥150 min/week at moderate-to-vigorous intensity), physical inactivity attribution (individual vs external), and support for policy actions aimed at achieving dual benefits of PA and climate change were analyzed using logistic regressions. Mediation models were conducted to examine the mechanisms. Results: Among 1,711 adults (18+ years; 42% liberal, 33% centrist, 25% conservative), no differences existed by political orientation on the seriousness of physical inactivity (79.5%) or PA guideline adherence (30%). However, compared to liberals, both centrists (OR: 1.63, 95%CI: 1.25-2.05) and conservatives (OR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.33-2.25) were more inclined to attribute physical inactivity as an individual’s fault. Regarding the endorsement of 8 policies, conservatives were less likely to support all 8 policies (ORs: 0.27-0.48) while centrists were less likely to support 4/8 policies (ORs: 0.53-0.66), compared to liberals. These associations were partially mediated by the neoliberal view of causes for physical inactivity among conservatives. Conclusion: Most adults acknowledged physical inactivity as a significant public health concern, irrespective of their political orientations. However, centrists and conservatives tended to attribute the issue to individual responsibility (i.e., neoliberal ideology). They also showed less support for policies addressing both climate change and physical inactivity, including those related to investments in public education, infrastructure, or establishing priorities. Practical implications: Tailoring public health messages, policy advocacy strategies, and investment priorities to align with varying political orientations may be important for addressing physical inactivity and its broader public health implications in Canada.

Background: While the positive impact of physical activity on the physical health of children and adolescents is well-established, its potential benefits for educational outcomes and psychological wellbeing remain less explored. Purpose: This umbrella review examines the evidence concerning the relationships between physical activity and educational achievement, cognition, education-related behaviours, and psychological wellbeing in school-aged youth. Methods: A thorough search of six electronic databases identified systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the association between physical activity interventions and various educational and psychological wellbeing outcomes. Effect sizes from meta-analyses were aggregated, and an umbrella meta-analysis was conducted. Results: Among the 50 studies included, 16 incorporated a meta-analysis. Overall, physical activity exhibited positive associations with enhanced academic achievement and cognitive outcomes, with pooled effect size estimates of 0.23 (95% confidence intervals: 0.09-0.38) for academic achievement and 0.28 (0.13-0.37) for cognitive outcomes. Behavioural outcomes demonstrated a pooled effect size of 0.40 (-0.04-0.84), while psychological wellbeing yielded an effect size of 0.00 (-0.60-0.58). However, narrative reports across 19 systematic reviews indicated positive associations between physical activity and classroom behaviour, school engagement, and psychological wellbeing. Conclusion: This review confirms the important role physical activity has on improved academic achievement and cognition. It emphasises the necessity for using consistent measurement of education-related behaviours, and psychological wellbeing outcomes. Practical Implications: Schools should recognise the dual benefits of physical activity on educational outcomes, prioritising opportunities to enhance physical activity during the school day. By highlighting the educational advantages of physical activity, researchers and policymakers may foster increased support for physical activity interventions within schools. Funding No funding to declare.

Background: Active travel (AT) interventions may offer benefits beyond increased physical activity. However, such potential ‘co-benefits’ have not been systematically synthesized, representing a missed opportunity to engage non-health sectors to promote active and sustainable lifestyles.

Purpose: To synthesize evidence on the ‘co-benefits’ of AT interventions.

Methods: This pre-registered systematic review adheres to PRISMA and Synthesis without Meta-analyses (SWiM) guidelines. Experimental/quasi-/natural experiment designs targeting AT behaviour, with a control group/condition and assessing physical activity outcome/s and co-benefit outcome/s were included. Systematic searches were conducted from January 2000 until September 2022 in Web of Science, PsycInfo, PubMed, Cochrane, and the Transport Research International Documentation. Risk of bias was assessed independently in duplicate using an established checklist. Results were synthesized using effect direction plots. Certainty of evidence was summarised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE).

Results: Of the 37,736 unique records assessed, 80 were included. Of those, 69 were quasi-/natural experiments, 11 were RCTs. Intervention context included the built environment (n=46), schools (n=25), and workplaces (n=12). Across studies, there was consistent evidence that AT interventions offered a broad range of co-benefits. Particularly, 71% (n=35 studies) showed co-benefits of improved safety, 63% showed improved health (n=30), 85% suggested economic benefits (n=20), 84% highlighted improved transport quality (n=19), 92% indicated environmental benefits (n=13), and 80% documented social benefits (n=5). GRADE assessment suggested high-certainty evidence for RCTs and very-low-to-low-certainty evidence for quasi-/natural experiments.

Conclusions: Despite low-certainty evidence from many studies, mostly limited by quasi-/natural experimental design for environmental interventions, AT interventions offer unique opportunities to engage stakeholders across sectors to ‘multi-solve’ societal problems, such as physical inactivity, traffic harms, carbon emissions, and air pollution.

Practical implications: This evidence synthesis can be used to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of AT interventions.

Background: The role of physical activity in supporting the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) has been recognized, with the potential for co-benefits. Though Canada has outlined a plan for addressing the SDGs, Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, the relevance to physical activity promotion in the country is unclear. Policy components: Previously published papers and grey literature were used to examine the potential links between SDGs and national strategies for sport, physical activity, & recreation (SPAR) in Canada. Two documents at the global level and one document from the Government of Canada were included for evaluation. The reviewed documents were summarized by the document, or the different sources of data used within the document (e.g., WHO global action plan, physical activity experts, literature review). The documents were then coded for SDGs that specify the role of sport, physical activity, and/or recreation. Evaluation: Across 17 SDGs, Goals 3 (good health & well-being), 4 (quality education), 9 (industry, innovation, & infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities & communities), 12 (responsible consumption & production), 13 (climate action), & 16 (peace, justice & strong institutions) received the most support in relation to SPAR. However, only Goal 3 was identified in the Canadian government report. Overall, we found no or limited mention of climate change or SDGs in Canada’s national strategies for SPAR. Conclusions: Climate change mitigation and several sustainable development action plans can be achieved through physical activity promotion strategies. In Canada, almost no information was available incorporating the strategies to promote SPAR within the SDGs framework. Further consideration on the role of SPAR that may directly and/or indirectly influence achieving SDGs and planetary health is required. Practical implications: This assessment may be useful in consideration of incorporating SDGs and climate change mitigation in national strategies for SPAR in Canada. Funding: None.