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Sociospatial distribution of access to facilities for moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity in Scotland by different modes of transport.


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Authors

Lamb, Karen E 
Ferguson, Neil S 
Murray, Jonathan 
Wang, Yang 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: People living in neighbourhoods of lower socioeconomic status have been shown to have higher rates of obesity and a lower likelihood of meeting physical activity recommendations than their more affluent counterparts. This study examines the sociospatial distribution of access to facilities for moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity in Scotland and whether such access differs by the mode of transport available and by Urban Rural Classification. METHODS: A database of all fixed physical activity facilities was obtained from the national agency for sport in Scotland. Facilities were categorised into light, moderate and vigorous intensity activity groupings before being mapped. Transport networks were created to assess the number of each type of facility accessible from the population weighted centroid of each small area in Scotland on foot, by bicycle, by car and by bus. Multilevel modelling was used to investigate the distribution of the number of accessible facilities by small area deprivation within urban, small town and rural areas separately, adjusting for population size and local authority. RESULTS: Prior to adjustment for Urban Rural Classification and local authority, the median number of accessible facilities for moderate or vigorous intensity activity increased with increasing deprivation from the most affluent or second most affluent quintile to the most deprived for all modes of transport. However, after adjustment, the modelling results suggest that those in more affluent areas have significantly higher access to moderate and vigorous intensity facilities by car than those living in more deprived areas. CONCLUSIONS: The sociospatial distributions of access to facilities for both moderate intensity and vigorous intensity physical activity were similar. However, the results suggest that those living in the most affluent neighbourhoods have poorer access to facilities of either type that can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by bus than those living in less affluent areas. This poorer access from the most affluent areas appears to be reversed for those with access to a car.

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Keywords

Automobiles, Bicycling, Exercise, Health Services Accessibility, Healthcare Disparities, Humans, Motor Vehicles, Multivariate Analysis, Obesity, Poverty, Public Facilities, Rural Population, Scotland, Social Class, Transportation, Urban Population, Walking

Journal Title

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1479-5868
1479-5868

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179474)
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007470/1)