Background
Methods
Search strategy
Built environment characteristics | Built environment OR neighbourhood design OR housing OR healthy food OR natural environment OR sustainable environment OR transport* OR smart growth OR urban planning OR urban environment OR physical environment OR spatial planning OR food availability OR food environment OR open space OR outdoor* OR countryside OR nature OR allotment OR air quality OR air pollution OR construction facility OR design OR planning OR land use mix or residential OR walkability OR traffic OR green space OR social mix OR housing mix OR salutogenic environments OR liveable environments OR urban design OR cycle networks OR cycle provision OR pedestrian provision OR car-free developments OR home zones |
AND | |
Health outcomes | Health outcome OR health OR health gain* OR injury preven* OR accident OR physical health OR mental health OR emotional health OR blood pressure OR physical activity OR diet OR activ* OR exercise OR nutrition OR energy intake OR obes* or overweight OR fruit and vegetable OR cardiovascular OR CVD OR suicide OR violence OR disorder OR road safety OR wellbeing OR well-being OR disability OR sedent* OR moderate-to-vigorous physical activity OR MVPA or weight status OR walking OR cycling or road traffic collision OR RTC or RTA or alcohol |
AND | |
Study type | Systematic review OR meta-analys* |
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Data extraction
Quality appraisal
Quality of review-level evidence
Quality of empirical evidence informing review-level evidence
Data synthesis
Results
Neighbourhood Design | |
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Enhance neighbourhood walkability | |
Increase walkability | Increased social engagement S9 (2); S15 (N/R); S16 (1–2) |
Increased mobility S9 (2); S15 (N/R); S16 (1–2) | |
Increased physical activity S1 (2); S2 (3); S3 (1–2); S4 (2); S5 (2–3); S6 (N/R); S7 (2); S8 (2); S9 (2); S10 (N/R); S11 (N/R); S12 (N/R); S13 (1); S14 (N/R); S15 (N/R) | |
Improve infrastructure to support walking and cycling | Increased physical activity S1 (2); S2 (3); S3 (1–2); S4 (2); S5 (2–3); S6 (N/R); S7 (2); S8 (2); S9 (2); S10 (N/R); S11 (N/R); S12 (N/R); S13 (1); S14 (N/R); S15 (N/R) |
Increased mobility among older adults S9 (2); S15 (N/R); S16 (1–2) | |
Improved weight status S17 (N/R); S18 (N/R); S19 (2) | |
Build complete and compact neighbourhoods | |
Compact neighbourhoods | Increased physical activity S4 (2); S9 (2); S14 (N/R); S21 (1–2); S23 (2) |
Increase access to facilities and amenities | Increased mobility among older adults S4 (2); S9 (2); S14 (N/R); S21 (1–2); S23 (2) |
Increased social participation among older adults S27 (N/R) | |
Improved mental health S24 (1–2); S25 (1–2); S26 (2–3) | |
Enhance connectivity with safe and efficient infrastructure | |
Improved street connectivity | Increased physical activity S1 (2); S2 (3); S3 (1–2); S4 (2); S5 (2–3); S6 (N/R); S7 (2); S8 (2); S9 (2); S10 (N/R); S11 (N/R); S12 (N/R); S13 (1); S14 (N/R); S15 (N/R) |
Provision of public realm improvements (e.g. provision of street lighting) | Increased physical activity S6 (N/R); S9 (2); S14 (N/R); S112 (1–2) |
Reduced fear of crime S28 (1) | |
Reduced road traffic collisions S29 (1); S112 (1–2); S113 (2–3) | |
Housing | |
Improve quality of housing | |
Increase energy efficient homes | Improved general and mental health outcomes (including for those from low-income groups) S15 (N/R); S25 (1–2); S32 (2); S33 (N/R); S35 (2–3); S36 (2); S42 (N/R) |
Reduced mortality S31 (1–2) | |
Remove home hazards | Improved social outcomes among older adults S39 (2); S40 (2); S42 (N/R) |
Reduced fall-related injuries among older adults S39 (2); S40 (2) | |
Reduced unintentional injury S41 (1–2); S42 (N/R) | |
Home refurbishment/retrofit | Improved general health S25 (1–2); S32 (2); S33 (N/R); S34 (N/R); S36 (2) |
Reduced fear of crime S28 (1) | |
Increase provision of affordable and diverse housing | |
Provision of diverse housing | Increased physical activity S21 (1–2) |
Provision of mixed-use, affordable housing | Increased perceptions of safety among low-income groups S39 (2) |
Provision of affordable rental housing | Improved mental health among adolescents and adults S25 (1–2); S32 (2) |
Increase provision of affordable housing for groups with specific needs
| |
Provision of affordable housing for vulnerable groups | Improved social outcomes S48 (1) |
Improved behavioural outcomes S45 (2); S51 (2) | |
Improved health-related outcomes S48 (1); S50 (N/R) | |
Reduced in substance misuse or co-occurring mental disorders S45 (2); S51 (2) | |
Improve psychiatric health outcomes S45 (2); S51 (2) | |
Increased quality of life S45 (2); S51 (2) | |
Provision of affordable housing for groups living with chronic conditions | Increased engagement with HIV/AIDS services S43 (2–3); S45 (2); S47 (2) |
Reduced engagement in risky sexual behaviours among those with HIV/AIDS S43 (2–3); S45 (2); S47 (2) | |
Improved HIV/AIDS outcomes S43 (2–3) | |
Provision of affordable housing for the homeless | Increased engagement with healthcare services S46 (2); S49 (N/R) |
Increased quality of life S46 (2); S49 (N/R) | |
Increased employment S44 (1) | |
Improved mental health S46 (2); S49 (N/R) | |
Healthier Food Environment | |
Increase provision of healthier, affordable food | |
Increase access to healthier food | Reduced dietary fat intake S52 (N/R) |
Improved dietary behaviour S52 (N/R); S53 (1–2); S54 (1); S55 (2); S56 (2–3); S57 (2); S58 (N/R) | |
Increased fruit and vegetable intake S39 (2); S52 (N/R) | |
Improved attitudes towards fruit and vegetables S39 (2); S52 (N/R) | |
Improved weight status S61 (N/R); S62 (2); S63 (1) | |
Healthier food purchasing S59 (N/R); S60 (2) | |
Enhance community food infrastructure | |
Increase urban food growing | Improved attitudes towards healthier eating S64 (N/R) |
Increased opportunities for fruit and vegetable consumption S9 (2); S64 (N/R) | |
Increased opportunities for social connectivity S9 (2); S64 (N/R) | |
Increased opportunities for physical activity S9 (2); S64 (N/R) | |
Natural and Sustainable Environment | |
Reduce exposure to environmental hazards | |
Improve air quality | Increased physical activity among older adults S24 (1–2) |
Reduce exposure to air pollution | Reduced risk of chronic conditions S70 (2); S71 (N/R); S72 (2); S73 (N/R); S74 (1–2); S75 (1–2); S76 (N/R); S77 (N/R); S78 (N/R); S79 (N/R); S80 (2); S81 (N/R); S82 (N/R); S83 (N/R); S84 (2–3); S85 (N/R); S86 (N/R); S87 (N/R); S88 (2–3); S89 (N/R); S90 (N/R); S91 (N/R); S92 (2–3); S93 (1–2); S94 (N/R) |
Improved birth outcomes S15 (N/R); S95 (N/R); S96 (2); S97 (N/R); S98 (N/R); S99 (N/R) | |
Reduced infant mortality S98 (N/R) | |
Improved cognitive function S100 (N/R) | |
Reduce exposure to excessive noise | Improved mental health outcomes S15 (N/R); S24 (1–2); S25 (1–2) |
Reduced risk of ischemic heart disease S101 (N/R) | |
Reduce impact of flooding | Reduced risk of carbon monoxide poisoning S102 (N/R) |
Improved mental and physical health outcomes S103 (N/R); S104 (N/R); S105 (N/R) | |
Increase access to, and engagement with, the natural environment | |
Increase access and engagement opportunities | Increased physical activity S9 (2); S21 (N/R); S111 (N/R); S107 (1); S117 (N/R) |
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease S24 (1–2); S26 (2–3) | |
Increased motivation to engage in physical activity S108 (1); S117 (N/R) | |
Reduced obesity among adolescents S18 (N/R); S111 (N/R) | |
Improved mental health outcomes S24 (1–2); S26 (2–3); S109 (2) | |
Aesthetic park improvements | Increased first-time park users S9 (2); S107 (1) |
Increased physical activity S9 (2); S18 (N/R); S107 (1); S111 (N/R) | |
Adaptation to climate change | |
Prioritisation of neighbourhood tree planting | Improved health outcomes S110 (2) |
Transport | |
Provision of active travel infrastructure | |
Increase infrastructure for walking and cycling | Increased physical activity S1 (2); S2 (3); S3 (1–2); S4 (2); S5 (2–3); S6 (N/R); S7 (2); S8 (2); S9 (2); S10 (N/R); S11 (N/R); S12 (N/R); S13 (1); S14 (N/R); S15 (N/R) |
Increased mobility among S9 (2); S15 (N/R); S16 (1–2) | |
Improved weight status S17 (N/R); S18 (N/R); S19 (2) | |
Enhance connectivity with safe and efficient infrastructure | |
Provision of traffic calming measures | Increased physical activity S6 (N/R); S9 (2); S112 (1–2); S14 (N/R) |
Reduced risk of pedestrian injury S29 (1); S112 (1–2); S113 (2–3) | |
Reduced risk of road traffic collision S29 (1); S112 (1–2); S113 (2–3); S114 (2); S115 (N/R); S116 (1–2) | |
Increased pedestrian activity S112 (1–2) | |
Provision of public realm improvements (e.g. provision of street lighting) | Increased physical activity S6 (N/R); S9 (2); S14 (N/R); S24 (1–2); S112 (1–2) |
Reduced fear of crime S28 (1) | |
Reduced road traffic collisions S29 (1); S112 (1–2); S113 (2–3) | |
Prioritise public transport | |
Promote public transport use | Increased physical activity S111 (N/R) |
Improved cardiovascular outcomes S19 (2) | |
Reduced fear of social isolation S15 (N/R) | |
Improved mental health S15 (N/R) | |
Enable mobility for all ages and activities | |
Increase access to recreational space | Improved pedestrian safety among adolescents S112 (1–2) |
Improved mental health S25 (1–2); S26 (2–3) |
Neighbourhood design
Housing
Food environment
Natural and sustainable environment
Transport
Discussion
Strengths and limitations
Implications for policymakers
Conclusions
What is already known on this subject
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The natural and built environment plays a key role in shaping the social and economic determinants of health.
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Although associations between the environment and health have long been established, there is often insufficient evidence to ascertain causality.
What this study adds
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This study systematically assessed evidence from recent systematic reviews on the association between the built and natural environment and health. The collation of evidence provides readers with an overview of the research that has been conducted in this field.
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The findings demonstrate evidence-based links between planning principles and health outcomes to aid communication among planners and public health professionals.