The Challenge: Regular physical activity can help prevent chronic diseases, decrease the risk of obesity, and enhance mental health, but people with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to physically active.

Make an impact: Increasing walking among people with lower socioeconomic status could reduce socioeconomic disparities in physical activity, and lead to higher rates of walking overall.

What the findings are about: This study used a computer model to examine the impact of two strategies commonly proposed for increasing walking: 1) improving people’s attitudes towards walking (e.g., through health education campaigns) and 2) improving safety (e.g., through community policing efforts). It also explored whether the impact of these interventions is modified by mixed land use.