From one pandemic to another: emerging lessons from COVID-19 for tackling physical inactivity in cities

1

ABSTRACT

Physical inactivity is a global pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has altered global patterns of physical activity in ways that were unimaginable before the outbreak. Enforced restrictions on mobility and the mass closure of indoor fitness centres has highlighted the limitations of many urban areas for enabling physical activity and reinforced inequalities in physical activity opportunities across cities. However, unprecedented reductions in mobility and increases in localised physical activity provide unique insight on opportunities for urban health promotion. COVID-19 responses can, therefore, encourage new perspectives in urban planning and inspire novel future strategies to design more sustainable, healthier and equitable cities. 

Video Abstract

Read the transcript

Watch the video on Vimeo

v 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

KEYWORDS:

• Physical activity
• neighbourhood inequality
• urban planning

Acknowledgements

The Scottish Government Hydro Nation Scholars Programme provided funding to support this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Scottish Government Hydro Nation Scholars Programme.

Notes on contributors

Craig W. McDougall

Craig W. McDougall is a PhD researcher in health geography in the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Stirling.

Caroline Brown

Caroline Brown is an assistant professor at The Urban Institute in the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University.

Craig Thomson

Craig Thomson is a reader in civil engineering and environmental management in the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Nick Hanley

Nick Hanley is a professor of environmental economics in the Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow.

Mark A. Tully

Mark A. Tully is a professor of public health in the Institute of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster University.

Richard S. Quilliam

Richard S. Quilliam is professor of environment and health in the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Stirling.

Phil J. Bartie

Phil J. Bartie is an assistant professor in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot Watt University.

Lesley Gibson

Lesley Gibson is a research associate with a focus on fire safety for international development in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.

David M. Oliver

David M. Oliver is an associate professor in catchment science in the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Stirling.