BUILT ENVIRONMENT BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN INDIAN CITIES: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Extensive research in developed countries confirms the influence of the urban built environment (BE) on physical activity (PA), but similar studies in low- and middle-income countries, such as India, are limited.  A scoping review was conducted through a systematic search of the Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases, as well as additional sources, to identify articles on BE, PA and BE influence on PA conducted in India up to June 2024.  Twenty-seven articles were chosen based on PRISMA-ScR guidelines.  Four themes across demographic groups and locations were classified, namely walking and cycling infrastructure, safety from traffic and crime, access to PA resources, and aesthetics and environmental quality, together with age- and gender-specific findings.  Several research gaps were also identified, such as reliance on self-reported questionnaires, limited use of objective assessment tools, under-representation of specific demographic groups, and insufficient studies on diverse BE types and PA environments.  The scoping review provided a comprehensive synthesis of barriers and facilitators of PA in Indian cities.  The findings highlighted the need for context-specific and demographic-sensitive research to assist urban designers in understanding the impact of the built environment on residents’ physical activity.