Identifying Barriers to Physical Activity and Exercise Within the Bexar County Community

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for cardiovascular, metabolic, psychological, and autoimmune health.
• A significant portion of the population fails to meet recommended PA guidelines, necessitating barrier investigation.
• Lower PA levels correlate with adverse health outcomes, particularly in areas with high chronic disease rates like Bexar County, Texas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specific barriers to physical activity (PA) among adults in Bexar County, Texas.
• To identify demographic and regional factors associated with barriers to PA.
• To inform targeted interventions for increasing PA participation and improving community health.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was administered to 220 adults (ages 18-99) residing in Bexar County.
• The survey assessed various domains of PA barriers, generating a total barrier score (TBS).
• Statistical analysis examined associations between demographic factors (age, disability, household dependents, race, region) and TBS.

Main Results:

• Age was inversely associated with TBS (p=0.015), while disability (p=0.002), household dependents (p=0.002), and residing in the northeast region (p=0.022) were positively associated with increased TBS.
• African American individuals reported higher safety barriers.
• Individuals with disabilities reported increased health barriers, and older adults reported fewer time-related barriers.

Conclusions:

• Demographic and regional factors significantly influence barriers to physical activity in Bexar County.
• Targeted interventions addressing specific barriers, such as safety for African Americans and health for those with disabilities, are needed.
• Understanding and mitigating these barriers can enhance PA engagement and improve population health outcomes in the region.