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

Obesity and physical activity are associated with aspects of the physical environment where people live, but the precise mechanisms of these associations are not well understood. Knowledge of the extent to which access to opportunities for physical activity is socially patterned is important to inform policy. A few studies of cities and regions (mostly conducted outside the UK) have found fewer resources in deprived areas, while others have not. 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 population density and specifically examining differences between Scotland's four largest cities.