Association between Urban Built Environments and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity of Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Study in Shanghai, China

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the built environment and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents aged 14–16 years. This study used a cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate the relationship between the urban built environment and adolescents’ MVPA in Shanghai, China. A total of 517 adolescents (275 boys and 242 girls) aged 14–17 years were recruited in Shanghai, China. Geographic information system technology was used to collect data on the built environment variables of the residential areas assessed. ActiGraphGT3X+ was used to monitor the physical activity of the adolescents at two time points (T1 and T2) spanning 2 years. The correlations between the T1 and T2 built environment variables were significant (r = 0.54–0.65, p < 0.05), and the T2 built environment was significantly better than the T1 built environment. The correlation between the T1 and T2 MVPA was significant (r = 0.28–0.56, p < 0.05), and the T2 weekend MVPA was higher than the T1 weekend MVPA. The T1 built environment could not predict the T2 weekday MVPA (β = 0.17, p > 0.05), but it positively predicted the T2 weekend MVPA (β = 0.24, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the urban built environment significantly affected weekend MVPA among adolescents.