@article{ref1,
title=""Movement-enhancing footpaths" - a natural experiment on street design and physical activity in children in a deprived district of Leipzig, Germany",
journal="Preventive medicine reports",
year="2020",
author="Igel, Ulrike and Gausche, Ruth and Krapf, Almut and Lück, Martina and Kiess, Wieland and Grande, Gesine",
volume="20",
number="",
pages="e101197-e101197",
abstract="Despite the beneficial effects of physical activity (PA), only 26% of children in Germany meet the WHO's recommendations. Because active play contributes to PA and is accepted by families, the creation of &quot;playable&quot; environments could promote PA. This study is a natural experiment that was conducted to investigate whether slight changes in the physical environment can increase PA in children. In autumn 2016, 140 students from two primary schools located in a deprived district of Leipzig (Germany) gathered ideas on PA-promoting street designs. After protracted negotiations with the city administration, two footpaths were decorated with colored markings (hopscotch grids, labyrinths, &quot;mirror me&quot;) in September 2019. 48 observations were made before (August 2019) and after (September/October 2019) the implementation using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). Age, gender, activity level, bike use, and interactions with the colored markings were recorded. A total of 5455 individuals (including 1099 cyclists) were observed. Almost one fifth of the observed children (0 to 12 years) interacted with the markings. There was a slight increase in vigorous activity in all observed individuals after the implementation (2.9% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001). The chance for vigorous activity was higher on decorated footpaths (OR 2.45, CI 1.54-3.89, p < 0.001), for children (OR 19.32, CI 13.07-28.56, p < 0.001), and on Sundays (OR 3.39, CI 2.33-4.94, p < 0.001). The participatory development and design of footpaths that support spontaneous active play &quot;on the way&quot; might be one component that can be used to support changes in children's PA behaviors and social interactions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2211-3355",
doi="10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101197",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101197"
}