Physical Activity and Food Environments in and around Schools: A Case Study in Regional North-West Tasmania

Sisitha Jayasinghe, Emily J. Flies, Robert Soward, Dave Kendal, Michelle Kilpatrick, Verity Cleland, Rebecca Roberts, Fadhillah Norzahari, Melanie Davern, Timothy P. Holloway, Sandra Murray, Kira A. E. Patterson, Kiran D. K. Ahuja, Roger Hughes, Nuala M. Byrne and Andrew P. Hills
Additional contact information
Sisitha Jayasinghe: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Emily J. Flies: School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
Robert Soward: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Dave Kendal: Healthy Landscapes Research Group, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
Michelle Kilpatrick: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Verity Cleland: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Rebecca Roberts: Australian Urban Observatory, Centre of Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Fadhillah Norzahari: Australian Urban Observatory, Centre of Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Melanie Davern: Australian Urban Observatory, Centre of Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Timothy P. Holloway: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Sandra Murray: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Kira A. E. Patterson: College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Kiran D. K. Ahuja: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Roger Hughes: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Nuala M. Byrne: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia
Andrew P. Hills: College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7250, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: A better understanding of the physical activity (PA) infrastructure in schools, the walkability of neighborhoods close to schools, and the food environments around schools, particularly in rural, socioeconomically challenged areas such as the North-West (NW) of Tasmania, could be important in the wider effort to improve the health of school-age children. Accordingly, this research aimed to assess PA resources, walkability, and food environments in and around schools in three socioeconomically disadvantaged, regional/rural Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Tasmania, Australia. A census of schools (including assessment of the PA infrastructure quality within school grounds), a walkability assessment, and a census of food outlets surrounding schools (through geospatial mapping) were executed. Most of the schools in the study region had access to an oval, basketball/volleyball/netball court, and free-standing exercise equipment. In all instances (i.e., regardless of school type), the quality of the available infrastructure was substantially higher than the number of incivilities observed. Most schools also had good (i.e., within the first four deciles) walkability. Numerous food outlets were within the walking zones of all schools in the study region, with an abundance of food outlets that predominantly sold processed unhealthy food.

Keywords: childhood obesity; physical activity; food environment; spatial analysis; NW Tasmania; regional Australia; schools (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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