Associating geospatially assessed walkability with population health physical activity indicators from urban and regional settings: A case study from Tasmania, Australia

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is a critical factor in the prevention of chronic disease and in achieving and maintaining good health. However, little is understood about the link between the built environment and physical activity levels in regional areas. OBJECTIVES: We linked geospatially-assessed walkability with population health surveillance data gathered from urban and regional locations across Tasmania, Australia, to assess if walkability was associated with physical activity. METHODS: We used linear regression analysis to determine associations between physical activity duration and the walkability index level generated by geospatial assessments. RESULTS: We demonstrated a clear association between higher walkability and greater physical activity duration, which was more pronounced in regional areas when compared to urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Geospatially-assessed walkability may influence physical activity levels in regional areas. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Designing the built environment to increase walkability may be a simple but effective strategy for enabling more physical activity, especially in regional settings.