State and Local Funding for Parks and Recreation Is Associated With Healthy Environments and Behaviors Across the United States.

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Pub Date : 2026-11-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-07 DOI:10.1097/PHH.0000000000002389

Marilyn E Wende, S Morgan Hughey, Farnaz Hesam Shariati, Andrew T Kaczynski

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined how state and local parks and recreation funding relates to county-level access to exercise opportunities, physical inactivity, and obesity, and how these associations differed in metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan areas. A cross-sectional analysis of all US counties (n = 3142) linked 2021 Census expenditure data with 2021 County Health Rankings measures. Generalized estimating equations assessed associations between expenditures and each outcome. Results showed that parks and recreation spending accounted for an average of 1.1% of state-local budgets (range: 0.4%-2.5%). Each 1% increase in expenditures was associated with significantly greater access to exercise opportunities and lower rates of physical inactivity and obesity. Such associations were strongest in metropolitan counties. In conclusion, increased investment in parks and recreation may improve community access to active environments and reduce physical inactivity and obesity. Future research should explore parks and recreation funding allocations in more detail and across a broader range of health outcomes.

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州和地方对公园和娱乐的资助与美国各地的健康环境和行为有关。

摘要：本研究考察了州和地方公园和娱乐资金与县级居民获得锻炼机会、缺乏体育活动和肥胖之间的关系，以及这些关系在大都市地区与非大都市地区的差异。对美国所有县（n = 3142）的横断面分析将2021年人口普查支出数据与2021年县健康排名措施联系起来。广义估算方程评估了支出与每个结果之间的关联。结果显示，公园和娱乐支出平均占州-地方预算的1.1%（范围：0.4%-2.5%）。支出每增加1%，就会有更多的锻炼机会、更低的不运动率和肥胖率。这种联系在大城市县最为强烈。总之，增加对公园和娱乐的投资可以改善社区获得活跃环境的机会，减少缺乏运动和肥胖。未来的研究应该更详细地探索公园和娱乐资金分配，并在更广泛的健康结果范围内进行研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

9.10%

发文量

287

期刊介绍： Journal of Public Health Management and Practice publishes articles which focus on evidence based public health practice and research. The journal is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed publication guided by a multidisciplinary editorial board of administrators, practitioners and scientists. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice publishes in a wide range of population health topics including research to practice; emergency preparedness; bioterrorism; infectious disease surveillance; environmental health; community health assessment, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, and academic-practice linkages.