Details:

Alternative Title:
Prev Chronic Dis
Personal Author:
Davison, Kirsten K ; Werder, Jessica L. ; Lawson, Catherine T
Davison, Kirsten K ; Werder, Jessica L. ; Lawson, Catherine T Less -
Description:
Introduction

Driven largely by international declines in rates of walking and bicycling to school and the noted health benefits of physical activity for children, research on children's active commuting to school has expanded rapidly during the past 5 years. We summarize research on predictors and health consequences of active commuting to school and outline and evaluate programs specific to children's walking and bicycling to school.

Methods

Literature on children's active commuting to school published before June 2007 was compiled by searching PubMed, PsycINFO, and the National Transportation Library databases; conducting Internet searches on program-based activities; and reviewing relevant transportation journals published during the last 4 years.

Results

Children who walk or bicycle to school have higher daily levels of physical activity and better cardiovascular fitness than do children who do not actively commute to school. A wide range of predictors of children's active commuting behaviors was identified, including demographic factors, individual and family factors, school factors (including the immediate area surrounding schools), and social and physical environmental factors. Safe Routes to School and the Walking School Bus are 2 public health efforts that promote walking and bicycling to school. Although evaluations of these programs are limited, evidence exists that these activities are viewed positively by key stakeholders and have positive effects on children's active commuting to school.

Conclusion

Future efforts to promote walking and bicycling to school will be facilitated by building on current research, combining the strengths of scientific rigor with the predesign and post design provided by intervention activities, and disseminating results broadly and rapidly.


Subjects:
[+]
Adolescent Bicycling Child Child, Preschool Child Welfare Health Promotion Humans Residence Characteristics Review Safety Schools Transportation Walking
Source:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2008; 5(3).
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
United States
Location:
North America
Collection(s):
Preventing Chronic Disease
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:7bf6442adf54d69c2b078845cdcf506da9457a114a307be9095620ed6a278488
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20245/cdc_20245_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	license.txt	txt
  	PCD53A100.nxml	txt

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