The Influence of Distance to School on the Associations Between Active Commuting and Physical Activity

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Panter ◽  
Andrew Jones ◽  
Esther Van Sluijs ◽  
Simon Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Environmental Determinants ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Walking To School

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between active commuting behavior, levels of physical activity and distance to school in 9–10 year old children. Participants were children (n = 1824) who took part in the SPEEDY study (Sport, Physical activity and Eating behavior: Environmental Determinants in Young people). For both boys and girls, significant positive associations were observed between walking to school and physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during weekday journey times (8–9am and 3–4pm), and the size of association also became stronger with increasing distance from school. Promotion of active commuting to school might be an important way to increase levels of physical activity in school children.

scholarly journals Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Jennifer S Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Income ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Low Income Households

Objective: Quantify inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in England and the United States (US). Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Participants: 4019 adolescents aged 11-15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12-17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-16). Main outcome measures: Three aspects of MVPA: (1) doing any, (2) average min/day (MVPA: including those who did none), and (3) average min/day conditional on participation (MVPA-active). Using hurdle models, we quantified inequalities (average marginal effects: AMEs) using the absolute difference in marginal means. Results: In England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last seven days (boys: 11%; 95% CI: 4% to 17%; girls: 13%; 95% CI: 6% to 20%); girls in high-income households did more than their low-income counterparts (MVPA: 6 min/day, 95% CI: 2 to 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households (MVPA: 21 min/day; 95% CI: 10 to 33), whilst boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (MVPA: 21 min/week; 95% CI: 8 to 34). In the US, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (boys: 15 min/day; 95% CI: 6 to 24 min/day; girls: 19 min/day; 95% CI: 12 to 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (boys: 11%; 95% CI: 3% to 19%; girls: 10%; 95% CI: 3% to 17%) and do more. Conclusions: Policy actions and interventions are required to increase MVPA across all income groups in England and the US. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (US) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to reduce inequalities.

Stellenwert von Bewegung und Sport bei Schulkindern in der Zentralschweiz

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Free Time ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sports Club ◽  
Sports Activities

This paper highlights the findings of a comparative cross-sectional study in the cantons of Uri (UR) and Schwyz (SZ). In this study, participating in sports and daily physical activity among 5th grades were observed trough selected indicators. The study was conducted in autumn 2012 and 2013 and included a randomly selected sample of 161 pupils in Uri (10.6±0.7 year olds) and 261 pupils in the canton of Schwyz (10.7±0.7 year olds). In both regions, a high rate of participation in free time sports activities could be detected: 68.8% (UR) and 70.1% (SZ) of all the children involved are members of a sports club, with more than half of them, being active, both in and outside of sports club. The proportion of completely inactive children lies below 5%. Furthermore, exercise and sports are regarded as the most important free time activities (regardless of gender and nationality). The majority of children (UR: 73.4%; SZ: 91%) commuted actively to school, with a significantly higher proportion amongst pupils in the canton of Schwyz (p < 0.001) due to the shorter distances. In total, slightly more than the half of the children reached the official recommendations of at least 60 min. of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. There was no association between the pedometer-based daily activity and the use of media.

County-Level Effects of Green Space Access on Physical Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Coutts ◽  
Timothy Chapin ◽  
Mark Horner ◽  
Crystal Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
County Level ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Recreational Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Activity Measurements

Background:Parks and other forms of green space are among the key environmental supports for recreational physical activity. Measurements of green space access have provided mixed results as to the influence of green space access on physical activity.Methods:This cross-sectional study uses a geographical information system (GIS) to examine the relationships between the amount of and distance to green space and county-level (n = 67) moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the state of Florida.Results:The gross amount of green space in a county (P < .05) and the amount of green space within defined distances of where people live (1/4 mile, P < .01; 1/2 mile, P < .05; 1 mile, P < .01) were positively associated with self-reported levels of MVPA. Distance to the nearest green space and the amount of green space furthest from where people live (10 miles) were not significantly associated with MVPA. All measures were weighted by the population living in census tracts.Conclusions:The results suggest that there is an association between the accessibility created by having more green space closer to home and MVPA, but this holds only for areas up to and including 1 mile from home.

Associations Between Active Commuting to School and Objectively Measured Physical Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 826-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Anita Bjørkelund Børrestad ◽  
Lars Østergaard ◽  
Lars Bo Andersen ◽  
Elling Bere
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Health Effect ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Accurate Assessment ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Walking To School ◽  
Objectively Measured Physical Activity

Background:To provide more accurate assessment of commuting behavior and potential health effect, it is important to have accurate methods. Therefore, the current study aimed to a) compare questionnaire reported mode of commuting with objectively measured data from accelerometer and cycle computer, b) compare moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children cycling vs. walking to school, and c) thus calculate possible underestimated MVPA, when using accelerometers to measure commuter cycling.Methods:A total of 78 children, average age 11.4 (SD = 0.5), participated in the study. Physical activity was measured with cycle computers and accelerometers for 4 days. Mode of commuting and demographic information was self-reported in a questionnaire.Results:Children who reported to cycle to school spent significantly more time cycling than those who walked to school, 53.6 (SD = ± 33.9) minutes per day vs. 25.5 (SD = ± 24.6) minutes per day (P = .002) (ie, showing that MVPA, measured by accelerometers, underestimated 28.1 minutes per day among children cycling to school vs. those not cycling to school).Conclusion:To provide more accurate assessment of active commuting in children and adolescents future studies should incorporate multiple methodologies such as global position systems (GPS), accelerometers, cycle computers, and self-reported measurements.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Anthropometric Characteristics Among Urban Youth in Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1063-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Parker ◽  
Darran Atrooshi ◽  
Lucie Lévesque ◽  
Edtna Jauregui ◽  
Simón Barquera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Urban Youth ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Mexican Youth

Background:Obesity is a critical problem among Mexican youth, but few studies have investigated associations among physical activity (PA) modes and anthropometrics in this population. This study examined associations among active commuting to school (ACS), sports or other organized PA, outdoor play, and body mass index (BMI) percentile and waist circumference (WC) among Mexican youth.Methods:Parents of school children (N = 1996, ages 6 to 14 years, 53.1% female) in 3 Mexican cities reported PA participation using the (modified) fourth grade School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey. Trained assessors measured BMI percentile and WC in person.Results:Parents reported that 52.3% of children engaged in ACS, 57.3% participated in sports or organized PA, and a median of 2 days in the previous week with at least 30 minutes of outdoor play. In complete case analyses (n = 857), ACS was negatively associated with BMI percentile, and outdoor play was negatively associated with WC after adjusting for school, age, sex, and income. In analyses incorporating data from multiple imputation (N = 1996), outdoor play was negatively associated with WC (all Ps < . 05).Conclusions:ACS and outdoor play are favorably associated with anthropometrics and may help prevent childhood obesity in Mexico. ACS and outdoor play should be priorities for increasing youth PA in Mexico.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document