Improving access to public physical activity events for disadvantaged communities in Australia

Abstract

Background Physical activity has numerous health benefits, but participation is lower in disadvantaged communities. ‘parkrun’ overcomes one of the main barriers for disadvantaged communities, the cost of activities, by providing a free, regular community-based physical activity event for walkers, runners and volunteers. This study assesses equity of access (in terms of distance to the nearest parkrun) stratified by socioeconomic deprivation, and identifies the optimal location for 100 new events to increase equity of access. Methods We combined information about population location and socioeconomic deprivation, with information about the location of 403 existing parkrun events, to assess the current level of access by deprivation quintile. We then used a two-step location-allocation analysis (minimising the sum of deprivation-weighted distances) to identify optimal regions, then optimal towns within those regions, as the ideal locations for 100 new parkrun events. Results Currently, 63.1% of the Australian population lives within 5 km of an event, and the average distance to an event is 14.5 km. A socioeconomic gradient exists, with the most deprived communities having the largest average distance to an event (27.0 km), and the least deprived communities having the best access (living an average 6.6 km from an event). Access improves considerably after the introduction of new event locations with around 68% of the population residing within 5 km of an event, and the average distance to the nearest event approximately 8 km. Most importantly, the improvement in access will be greatest for the most deprived communities (now an average 11 km from an event). Conclusions There is a socioeconomic gradient in access to parkrun events. Strategic selection of new parkrun locations will improve equity of access to community physical activity events, and could contribute to enabling greater participation in physical activity by disadvantaged communities.

Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011–2020

“…Significantly for PA interventions more broadly is the association between lower SES and the high-growth participation pattern. Although parkruns are more likely to be in more advantaged areas, 32 one-third of our sample were in the lowest 3 deciles. Research from the United Kingdom on approximately 60,000 parkrunners has shown that those from areas of greater disadvantage who are inactive at registration report greater improvements in fitness, physical health, happiness, and mental health when compared to the whole sample.…”

Predictors of successful return to parkrun for first-time adult participants in Scotland

“…As route design could influence whether first-timers return, parkrun might want to consider the mechanism by which new events are created and whether they can add more flexibility to these processes to encourage the introduction of more parkruns with characteristics associated with higher return rates. For example, parkrun have prioritised the creation of events on socio-economic grounds after inequalities were identified in the distribution of parkrun events in England [ 51 ]. After receiving funding to create 200 new events a study identified the ideal locations to reduce these inequalities [ 52 ].…”

Reflexiones de la prescripción de ejercicio físico en la consulta del médico familiar

“…Se ha estimado incluso que la inactividad física aumenta el gasto en salud en todos los países entre un 1.2 y 2.5%, por lo que promover el ejercicio físico acrecienta el costo-beneficio y el costo-utilidad global en las naciones y se traduce en un enorme provecho para las personas 41,42 . Se ha establecido que la selección estratégica de lugares donde se puede realizar actividad física cerca de comunidades desfavorecidas con desventajas para su acceso, a comparación de otras más favorecidas, mejora en esas comunidades la equidad y la participación de la población, teniendo un impacto benéfico en la salud pública 43 .…”