Public administration and the obesity epidemic: does citizens’ physical activity participation make a difference across local populations?

The rising level of obesity across the globe is a wicked problem facing contemporary public administrations. Increasing citizens’ physical activity participation has been championed as a means to manage against rising obesity levels. In the UK the responsibility for which lies largely with local authorities. However, if citizens’ participation in physical activity across a local authority population increases, is this associated with lower levels of overweight and obesity in that same population? Drawing on secondary data, an exploratory panel study of 317 English local authorities during 2012-15 were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis to examine whether citizens’ sport participation does reduce the prevalence of obesity. The findings reveal how when physical activity levels are lower across a local authority area, the prevalence of obesity among these local authority populations is greater. Therefore, by increasing physical activity among their populations, local authorities can better ‘manage obesity’.