Physical activity opportunities in low socioeconomic status neighbourhoods

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) Vol. 63; no. 12; p. 1021
• Main Authors: Lee, R E, Mama, S K, Banda, J A, Bryant, L G, McAlexander, K P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.12.2009; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Child; Environment Design; Exercise; Health Promotion; Housing developments; Humans; Income; Poverty Areas; Public Housing; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomics; State policies; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2009.091173

Increased availability of neighbourhood physical activity resources can help to promote physical activity among residents, even in very low socioeconomic status neighbourhoods. 1 Residents of low-income, government subsidised, public housing have extremely low rates of physical activity and high rates of obesity, in part driven by lack of neighbourhood physical activity resources. 2 3 4 Federal and State Policies governing features and amenities in public housing developments themselves can help to ameliorate this situation. 5 Contrasted here are one public housing development in a lower income neighbourhood (top; median household income = $9766) with frequently used physical activity resources located on the housing development property and one public housing development in a higher income neighbourhood (bottom; median household income = $70 833) with no physical activity resources on the property.