Associations between access to recreational physical activity facilities and body mass index in Scottish adults.

Background: The aim of this country-wide study was to link individual health and behavioural data with area-level spatial data to examine whether the body mass index (BMI) of adults was associated with access to recreational physical activity (PA) facilities by different modes of transport (bus, car, walking, cycling) and the extent to which any associations were mediated by PA participation.

Methods: Data on individual objectively-measured BMI, PA (number of days of (a) ≥20 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA, and (b) ≥15 min of sport or exercise, in previous 4 weeks), and socio-demographic characteristics were obtained from a nationally representative sample of 6365 adults. The number of accessible PA facilities per 1,000 individuals in each small area (data zones) was obtained by mapping a representative list of all fixed PA facilities throughout mainland Scotland.

Access to recreational physical activities by car and bus: an assessment of socio-spatial inequalities in mainland Scotland.

Obesity and other chronic conditions linked with low levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with deprivation. One reason for this could be that it is more difficult for low-income groups to access recreational PA facilities such as swimming pools and sports centres than high-income groups. In this paper, we explore the distribution of access to PA facilities by car and bus across mainland Scotland by income deprivation at datazone level.

Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and specific causes of mortality in Scotland.

Objective: This study investigated the association between long-term exposure to black smoke (BS) air pollution and mortality in two related Scottish cohorts with 25 years of follow-up.

Methods: Risk factors were collected during 1970-1976 for 15331 and 6680 participants in the Renfrew/Paisley and Collaborative cohorts respectively. Exposure to BS during 1970-1979 was estimated by inverse-distance weighted averages of observed concentrations at monitoring sites and by two alternative spatial modelling approaches which included local air quality predictors (LAQP).

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

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.

Recreational physical activity facilities within walking and cycling distance: sociospatial patterning of access in Scotland.

To examine the sociospatial patterning of access to recreational physical activity facilities in Scotland, we used negative binomial multilevel models to investigate associations between income deprivation at datazone level and the number of facilities available within 10, 20 and 30 min walking and cycling thresholds, adjusting for datazone population size and local authority. Accessibility was significantly (p<0.01) lower in the most affluent quintile for most thresholds tested in urban areas and for some thresholds tested in small towns.

Distribution of physical activity facilities in Scotland by small area measures of deprivation and urbanicity.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of physical activity facilities by area-level deprivation in Scotland, adjusting for differences in urbanicity, and exploring differences between and within the four largest Scottish cities.

Methods: We obtained a list of all recreational physical activity facilities in Scotland. These were mapped and assigned to datazones.