We all know the benefits of physical activity, but have you ever considered the ways the area you live in influences your ability to and options for exercise? Many Americans live in areas that discourage rather than promote an active lifestyle. Lack of access to areas to safely exercise creates physical activity deserts, which like food deserts, where fresh produce is not readily available, have deleterious effects on the health and well-being of the population living there.

On this episode of the AMSSM Sports Medcast (T: @TheAMSSM) host Dr. Devin McFadden, MD is joined by sports medicine researcher and president of the American College of Sports Medicine, Dr. NiCole Keith, PhD.

Dr. NiCole Keith (T: @nicolekeithphd) is a Professor from the Department of Kinesiology and associate dean of faculty affairs in the School of Health & Human Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Her research interests include physical activity and health equity. In addition to serving as the current president of the ACSM she has previously served as the vice president of membership, communication, and policy and serves on both the Exercise is Medicine and American Fitness Index advisory boards.

In this 20-minute conversation Dr. Keith addresses the following topics:

What are physical activity deserts?
Who is a risk of these deserts and what are the consequences?
What can we do to advocate for improved access to safe areas to be physically active on the local and national levels?

Physical Activity Alliance: https://paamovewithus.org/

The American Fitness Index ranks America’s top 100 healthiest cities: https://americanfitnessindex.org/

Exercise is Medicine connects physical activity to healthcare: https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/

ActivEarth seeks to improve communities through physical activity and active transportation: https://www.acsm.org/acsm-membership/strategic-initiatives/activearth-(active-transportation)