Background: Living in walkable neighborhoods may provide long-term cardio-metabolic health benefits to residents. Little empirical research has examined the behavioral mechanisms in this relationship. In this longitudinal study, we examined the potential mediating role of physical activity (baseline and 12-year change) in the relationships of neighborhood walkability with 12-year changes in cardio-metabolic risk markers. Methods: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study collected data from adults, initially aged 25+ years, in 1999–2000, 2004–05, and 2011–12. We used 12-year follow-up data from 2023 participants who did not change their address during the study period. Outcomes were 12-year changes in waist circumference, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. A walkability index was calculated, using dwelling density, intersection density, and destination density, within 1 km street-network buffers around participants’ homes. Spatial data for calculating these measures were sourced around the second follow-up period. Physical activity was assessed by self-reported time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (including walking). Multilevel models, adjusting for potential confounders, were used to examine the total and indirect relationships. The joint-significance test was used to assess mediation. Results: There was evidence for relationships of higher walkability with smaller increases in weight (P = 0.020), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.002); and, for relationships of higher walkability with higher baseline physical activity (P = 0.020), which, in turn, related to smaller increases in waist circumference (P = 0.006), weight (P = 0.020), and a greater increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.005). There was no evidence for a relationship of a higher walkability with a change in physical activity during the study period (P = 0.590). Conclusions: Our mediation analysis has shown that the protective effects of walkable neighborhoods against obesity risk may be in part attributable to higher baseline physical activity levels. However, there was no evidence of mediation by increases in physical activity during the study period. Further research is needed to understand other behavioral pathways between walkability and cardio-metabolic health, and to investigate any effects of changes in walkability.

This paper presents a typology of ecological injustice hotspots for targeted design of nature-based solutions to guide planning and designing of just cities. The typology demonstrates how the needs and capabilities of nonhuman nature can be embedded within transitions to multi- and interspecies relational futures that regenerate and protect urban social-ecological systems. We synthesise the findings of previous quantitative and qualitative analyses to develop the Ecologically Just Cities Framework that (1) works as a diagnostic tool to characterise four types of urban ecological injustices and (2) identifies nature-based planning actions that can best respond to different types of place-based ecological injustices.

Purpose: This review presents a general overview of the state of evidence on the relationships between neighborhood built environments and cardiovascular health outcomes among adults. We also summarize relevant literature on the associations of built environments with active living behaviors (physical activity [PA] and sedentary behavior), as they are considered as key behavioral pathways. Review Methods: We identified recently published systematic reviews assessing associations of built environment attributes with cardiovascular health outcomes or active living behaviors. We summarized findings of the key systematic reviews and presented findings of pertinent empirical studies, where appropriate. Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that living in a place supportive of engaging in PA for transportation (eg, walkability features) and recreation (eg, parks) can be protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Places conducive to higher levels of sedentary travel (ie, prolonged sitting in cars) may have adverse effects on cardiovascular health. The built environment of where people live can affect how active they are and subsequently their cardiovascular health. Clinical professionals are encouraged to consider the built environment features of where their patients live in counseling, as this may assist them to understand potential opportunities or barriers to active living and to propose a suitable CVD prevention strategy.

Residents of lower socioeconomic status (SES) areas are at a higher risk of overweight/obesity than those from higher SES areas. Built environment attributes may mitigate such inequalities. This systematic review synthesised findings of studies examining built environment attributes as potential moderators of the associations between area-level SES and overweight/obesity in adults. From five databases, nine eligible studies were identified. The SES-overweight/obesity relationship was stronger in inner areas and suburbs of large cities, while it was weaker in more rural areas. Two studies examined walkability and reported contrasting findings: no moderation in one and marginally significant moderation (less inequality in higher walkability areas) in the other. No evidence of moderation was found for street connectivity, population density, the food environment, access to physical activity facilities and several perceived environmental attributes. Further research is needed on other built environment attributes (e.g., access to, quantity and quality of green spaces, active transport features), and ideally using prospective study designs and objective makers of adiposity.

Urban liveability is a global priority for creating healthy, sustainable cities. Measurement of policy-relevant spatial indicators of the built and natural environment supports city planning at all levels of government. Analysis of their spatial distribution within cities, and impacts on individuals and communities, is crucial to ensure planning decisions are effective and equitable. This paper outlines challenges and lessons from a 5-year collaborative research program, scaling up a software workflow for calculating a composite indicator of urban liveability for residential address points across Melbourne, to Australia’s 21 largest cities, and further extension to 25 global cities in diverse contexts.