Understanding the relationship between town size and physical activity levels: A population study

Little is known about the relationship between town size and physical activity levels. A representative population sample survey was used to identify activity and environmental barrier differences between residents in diverse town sizes (n = 7916). Binary logistic regression analysis identified residents in large cities (> 100 000 people) were 15% less likely to be sedentary for overall activity classifications in comparison to small town dwellers (< 1000 people) (OR = 0.85; 95%Cl = 0.74-0.99). Barriers to physical activity participation differed by town size; smaller town residents reported a higher prevalence of infrastructural barriers, whereas larger city residents cited personal constraints. Community physical activity interventions should address issues associated with town size. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.