The physical health of Americans has become an increasing concern within the last fifty years. Specifically, obesity is currently the second leading cause of preventable death. Two notable factors that help explain this are decrease in physical activity and lack of access to environments that encourage physical activity. In 2016, only 44.6% of African Americans 18 years and older met the federal aerobic-activity guidelines compared to 54.1% of whites. In Fulton County (Georgia), 94% of the total population has access to locations that promote physical activity, yet 26% of adults are obese. Engaging in physical activity helps to prevent obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Some urban populations have limited access to environments that promote physical activity. Where there is access, however, there may be barriers to utilization of available health-promoting resources. The purpose of this research is to assess physical activity on the East and Westside Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile multi-use trail. Physical activity was measured using a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities methodology (SOPARC). We hypothesize that there are differences in physical activity levels on the East and Westside Atlanta Beltline that can be attributed to race, gender, and SES.
