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Now published in The Lancet

Re: The Effect of Moving to East Village (the Former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes' Village) on Physical Activity and Adiposity Levels: The Enable London Study

37 Pages Posted: 5 Mar 2019

See all articles by Claire Nightingale

Claire Nightingale

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Elizabeth S. Limb

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Bina Ram

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Aparna Shankar

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Christelle Clary

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Public Health, Environments and Society

Daniel Lewis

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Steven Cummins

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Public Health, Environments and Society

Duncan Procter

University of Bristol

Ashley R. Cooper

University of Bristol

Angie S. Page

University of Bristol

Anne Ellaway

UK Medical Research Council - Social & Public Health Sciences Unit

Billie Giles-Corti

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technolog (RMIT University)

Peter H. Whincup

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Alicja R. Rudnicka

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Derek G. Cook

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

Christopher G. Owen

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

More...

Abstract

Objective: There is considerable interest in whether the built environment influences health behaviours, but longitudinal evidence is limited.  We examined the effect of moving into East Village (the former London 2012 Olympic Games Athletes Village, repurposed on active design principles), on levels of physical activity (PA) and adiposity among adults.  

Design: A natural experiment.  

Participants: A cohort of 1278 adults seeking to move into social, intermediate, and market-rent East Village accommodation was recruited in 2013-2015, and followed up after two years.    

Intervention: Moving to East Village.  

Main outcome: Change in objectively measured daily steps (ActiGraph GT3X+).  

Methods: Change in environmental exposures associated with physical activity were assessed using Geographic Information System derived measures.  Individual objective measures of PA using accelerometry, body mass index (BMI) and bioelectrical impedance (fat mass %) were obtained, as were perceptions of change in the built environment.  We examined change in levels of PA and adiposity, using multilevel models adjusting for sex, age group, ethnic group, housing sector (fixed effects) and household (random effect), comparing those who moved to East Village (intervention group) with those who did not (control group).  Effects of housing sector as an effect modifier were also examined.  

Results: 877 adults (69%) were followed-up, of whom 50% had moved to East Village.  Moving to East Village was associated with only a small non-significant increase in mean daily steps (154, 95% CI -231, 539), despite sizeable improvements in walkability and neighbourhood perceptions of crime and quality.  There were no appreciable effects on time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) or sedentary time, BMI or percentage fat mass, overall or by housing sector.  

Conclusion: Despite strong evidence of large improvements in neighbourhood perceptions and walkability there was no clear evidence that moving to East Village was associated with increased physical activity. Improving the physical activity environment on its own may be insufficient to increase population physical activity.  

Funding: This research is being supported by project grants from the Medical Research Council National Prevention Research Initiative (MR/J000345/1) and National Institute for Health Research (12/211/69). Diabetes and obesity prevention research at St George’s, University of London is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) South London. BR is supported by a St George’s, University of London, PhD Studentship. AE is funded by the UK Medical Research Council as part of the Neighbourhoods and Communities Programme (MC_UU_12017-10). BG-C is supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (#1107672). ARC and ASP are supported by NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol.

Declaration of Interest: We declare that we have no competing interests.

Ethical Approval: Full ethical approval was obtained from the relevant Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee (REC Reference 12/LO/1031). All participants provided written informed consent.

Keywords: Built environment, physical activity, adiposity, health behaviour, housing tenure

Suggested Citation

Nightingale, Claire and Limb, Elizabeth S. and Ram, Bina and Shankar, Aparna and Clary, Christelle and Lewis, Daniel and Cummins, Steven and Procter, Duncan and Cooper, Ashley R. and Page, Angie S. and Ellaway, Anne and Giles-Corti, Billie and Whincup, Peter H. and Rudnicka, Alicja R. and Cook, Derek G. and Owen, Christopher G., Re: The Effect of Moving to East Village (the Former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes' Village) on Physical Activity and Adiposity Levels: The Enable London Study (February 27, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3343676 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3343676

Claire Nightingale

University of London - Population Health Research Institute ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Elizabeth S. Limb

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Bina Ram

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Aparna Shankar

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Christelle Clary

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Public Health, Environments and Society ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Daniel Lewis

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Keppel Street
London, WC1E 7HT
United Kingdom

Steven Cummins

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Public Health, Environments and Society

London
United Kingdom

Duncan Procter

University of Bristol

University of Bristol,
Senate House, Tyndall Avenue
Bristol, Avon BS8 ITH
United Kingdom

Ashley R. Cooper

University of Bristol

University of Bristol,
Senate House, Tyndall Avenue
Bristol, Avon BS8 ITH
United Kingdom

Angie S. Page

University of Bristol

University of Bristol,
Senate House, Tyndall Avenue
Bristol, Avon BS8 ITH
United Kingdom

Anne Ellaway

UK Medical Research Council - Social & Public Health Sciences Unit

4 Lilybank Gardens
Glasgow, G12 8RZ
United Kingdom

Billie Giles-Corti

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technolog (RMIT University)

124 La Trobe Street
Melbourne, 3000
Australia

Peter H. Whincup

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Alicja R. Rudnicka

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Derek G. Cook

University of London - Population Health Research Institute

London
United Kingdom

Christopher G. Owen (Contact Author)

University of London - Population Health Research Institute ( email )