Physical Activity : The interplay between individual and neighbourhood factors

Abstract

Physical inactivity is among the most important and prevalent risk factors of many major diseases. Although the health benefits of regular exercise and a physically active lifestyle are well known, many people are still not active. Understanding why some population groups are physically active and others are not is therefore of key importance in developing strategies to improve population health. Physical activity is often believed to be influenced by both environmental factors, such as the neighbourhood lay-out, and individual factors, like p