Journal
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Volume 69, Issue -, Pages 135-140Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.09.016
Keywords
Physical activity; Coastal proximity; Monitor of Engagement with the Natural; Environment; England
Funding
- European Regional Development Fund
- European Social Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/K002872/1]
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Change and Health
- Isles of Scilly
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/K002872/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- ESRC [ES/K002872/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Background: Recent findings suggest that individuals living near the coast are healthier than those living inland. Here we investigated whether this may be related to higher levels of physical activity among coastal dwellers in England, arising in part as a result of more visits to outdoor coastal settings. Method: Participants (n = 183,755) were drawn from Natural England's Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey (2009-2012). Analyses were based on self-reported physical activity for leisure and transport. Results: A small, but significant coastal proximity gradient was seen for the likelihood of achieving recommended guidelines of physical activity a week after adjusting for relevant area and individual level controls. This effect was statistically mediated by the likelihood of having visited the coast in the last seven days. Stratification by region, however, suggested that while the main effect was relatively strong for west coast regions, it was not significant for those in the east. Conclusions: In general, our findings replicate and extend work from Australia and New Zealand. Further work is needed to explain the marked regional differences in the relationship between coastal proximity and physical activity in England to better understand the coast's potential role as a public health resource. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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