Increased physical activity is associated with lower risks of type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality, independent of obesity. The role of the built environment is important for encouraging physical activity. Individuals who live closer to sidewalks, parks, and gyms are more likely to exercise.

For more information, please visit the Access to Exercise Opportunities for Cabarrus County Page on the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings.

Access to Exercise Opportunities measures the percentage of individuals in a county who live reasonably close to a location for physical activity. Locations for physical activity are defined as parks or recreational facilities. Individuals are considered to have access to exercise opportunities if they:

• reside in a census block that is within a half mile of a park, or
• reside in an urban census block that is within one mile of a recreational facility, or
• reside in a rural census block that is within three miles of a recreational facility.

To learn more about the Measure Methods, please visit the Access to Exercise Opportunities, Measure Methods Section, on the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings Website.

A measure that helps quantify the achievement of a result.