Precision medicine and healthy living: The importance of the built environment

The built environment encompasses the major physical spaces, including buildings, streets, homes, schools, parks, playgrounds and other infrastructure in which we live, work and play. In an ideal world, the built environment should support and facilitate a healthy engagement in physical activity acr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inProgress in cardiovascular diseases Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 34 - 38
Main Authors Hills, Andrew P., Farpour-Lambert, Nathalie J., Byrne, Nuala M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2019
Subjects
Built environment
Healthy living
Physical activity
Walkability
NCDs
HL
Physical activity
HLM
Built environment
PA
AWI
CV
Walkability
IOC
Healthy living
US
WHO
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Summary:The built environment encompasses the major physical spaces, including buildings, streets, homes, schools, parks, playgrounds and other infrastructure in which we live, work and play. In an ideal world, the built environment should support and facilitate a healthy engagement in physical activity across the lifespan. However, in the context of an environment characterized by increased mechanization and urbanization, physical inactivity and higher levels of overweight and obesity, too many settings are not conducive to physical activity and/or are not safe and walkable. In the knowledge that there are multiple challenges to redress the low levels of physical activity seen in many parts of the world, this paper provides some examples of opportunities for healthy living (HL) in a built environment characteristic of an increasingly urbanized world. Particular foci include opportunities for HL fostered in child-friendly cities, in which walkability is high, and active transport is encouraged and supported.
ISSN:0033-0620
1532-8643
1873-1740
DOI:10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.013