Are outdoor gyms located in areas of greatest need and impact? An audit in Sydney, Australia

ABSTRACT

Outdoor gyms are increasingly available and have the potential to revitalize public parks and provide equitable access to physical activity opportunities. A comprehensive online search was conducted for outdoor gyms in Greater Sydney including: number, location, equipment type, installation/upgrade year, funding, consultation and promotional strategies. Proportions of outdoor gyms in suburbs identified as having greater need or impact were calculated. The search identified 209 outdoor gyms, about one third (n = 77; 36.8%) located in the most disadvantaged suburbs. Where installation/upgrade year was determined, the majority (n = 50; 87.7%) occurred in the past five years. There was limited community consultation (n = 17; 8.1%) and promotional strategies (n = 22; 10.5%). Increasing the accessibility of outdoor gyms through good design, location and promotion could be an important public health strategy to increase physical activity among at-risk populations. Further research to affirm their use, suitability and perceived social and health benefits in at-risk population groups is recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Outdoor gym
• outdoor fitness equipment
• health promotion
• physical activity
• equity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Leonie Cranney is an experienced health professional, working in the health promotion field at the local and state government levels for 18 years. She has been responsible for population health policy and programme development, implementation, research, monitoring, evaluation and dissemination.

Louise Shaw is an accomplished and dynamic health professional with a strong academic background and growing authorship on injury prevention and safety. Louise holds a Public Health Ph.D. on a systems-based approach to cycling safety. Her interests lie in injury prevention, injury surveillance, sports medicine research and prevention of communicable diseases.

Associate Professor Philayrath Phongsavan's research specializes in social epidemiology and behavioural science research, the development and evaluation of chronic disease prevention and health promotion programmes in developed and low-middle income countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific countries.

ORCID

Leonie Cranney http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9441-5703