Physically inactive lifestyles are becoming more prevalent worldwide, as are the chronic diseases they cause. To change behavior on a population-wide basis, it is important to understand the underlying forces responsible for current patterns and trends. Among the many possible factors that are being studied, physical environment variables are particularly promising. There is substantial evidence linking the design of communities and access to recreational facilities with active transportation and recreation. Land development practices in many countries are increasingly based on automobile-oriented, suburban patterns that are risk factors for inactivity and overweight. Better understanding of how to create “activity-friendly” communities can advance science and can lead to evidence-based policy recommendations. Country-specific data are needed to provide evidence that is credible to policy makers.

In 2000, Drs. Sallis, Saelens, and Frank were awarded a National Institutes of Health grant to study the environmental correlates of physical activity in the U.S. using objective measures of environments (Geographic Information Systems) and physical activity (Actigraphs). This is the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study (NQLS). In 2002, Dr. Owen was awarded a grant to conduct the PLACE study in Australia.  In 2007-2008, Dr. De Bourdeadhuij used a similar study design to NQLS and PLACE in the Belgian Environmental Physical Activity Study (BEPAS). With these three studies serving as the foundation, the time was right to advocate for similar studies to be conducted in other countries, and there would be many advantages to using common study designs and measures. IPEN was formed to invite and support investigators around the world to participate in this new area of research that we believe has great public health significance. The core team has since been joined by Dr. Jacqueline Kerr who has experience conducting research in Europe and is now based in San Diego.

In 2009, the IPEN Study was launched to further the field by addressing underestimated associations of environmental correlates of physical activity due to the limited range of environments in any single country.  Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the IPEN Study will pool data from at least 14 countries to estimate strengths of association between detailed measures of the built environment and physical activity in adults. 

In order to engage and expand then international network that IPEN has supported, the ISPAH Council on Environment and Physical Activity (CEPA) was formed in Toronto in May of 2010.  With initial leadership from the IPEN Network, CEPA supports investigators from multiple disciplines around the world to conduct rigorous research on physical activity and the environment and use the results to advocate for evidence-based environmental and policy changes to support and promote physical activity internationally. 

Neighborhood Quality of Life Studies (United States):

NQLS Older Adults (2004-2008)

NQLS Adolescents (2004-2008)

PLACE (Australia):

Physical Activity in Localities and Community Environments (PLACE)

PLACE report now available for download: An Account of Spatially Based Survey Methods and Recruitment Outcomes

James F. Sallis, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Family and Preventive Medicine
University of California at San Diego
Program Director, Active Living Research
jsallis@ucsd.edu
Website

Neville Owen, Ph.D.
Website

Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Ph.D.
Link

Lawrence D. Frank, Ph.D., AICP, ASLA
Website

Jacqueline Kerr, Ph.D.
jkerr@ucsd.edu
CV

Nicole L. Bracy, Ph.D.
nbracy@ucsd.edu
Nicole L. Bracy is a Research Scientist and Coordinator for IPEN.  She has a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Delaware and is excited to be back in her hometown, San Diego, coordinating the IPEN projects.  Nicole has a strong interest and background in community-based research.  Her dissertation research focused on policing and surveillance in public schools and she has published several journal articles and book chapters based upon this research.  While in graduate school, Nicole taught undergraduate courses in research methods and statistics and was the Project Manager for two large NIMH-funded research labs in the Psychology Department at the University of Delaware.  Prior to attending graduate school, Nicole worked for the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UC San Diego conducting health outcomes research. Nicole enjoys traveling abroad and experiencing local culture; in her personal travels she has visited Canada, Mexico, England, Italy and China.  She looks forward to visiting and learning from IPEN collaborators across the world.

Terry Conway

Marc Adams
m1adams@ucsd.edu

Kelli Cain
kcain@ucsd.edu

Carrie Geremia
cgeremia@ucsd.edu

Lisa Husak
lhusak@ucsd.edu

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