CEDAR is adding information to the Bristol University-led PEAR Project, which is investigating how different features of the physical environment relate to the time that 13-15 year olds spend engaged in physical activity.
To do this researchers are using objective measurement of the environment through a geographic information system (GIS), combined with objective measures of where people actually go (Global Positioning System), linked with an objective measure of physical activity (accelerometer). In this way PEAR will determine where and when adolescents from both urban and rural settings are most and least active.
PEAR is also identifying features of the environment which relate to the time spent being active in these different locations. The study will use this information to generate similar self-report measures for wider use in public health research and policy.
The PEAR Project is funded by the MRC and builds on the work carried out in the PEACH Project.