| Popis: |
Rural residents have a higher prevalence of weight-related health problems and are less physically active compared to those in urban areas. Research has shown that amenities, such as parks and walking paths, are difficult to find in rural communities because of poor signage, outdated maps, and limited online resources. Physical activity (PA) mapping has been shown to increase knowledge and community resource use. The purpose of this project was to create PA maps to promote PA in rural towns in northwest Illinois. We collected data by reviewing online resources, interviewing stakeholders, and surveying towns using the Rural Active Living Assessment. We then created online maps, posted them on the Enhanced-Win With Wellness website, and evaluated them using an online survey. Results from the survey indicated that 73 percent of the respondents plan on using the maps in the future, suggesting that mapping is an effective strategy to present research data and increase community engagement in PA. |
