Changes in Physical Activity from Walking to School

Citation

Sirard, John R.; Alhassan, Sofiya; Spencer, Tirzah R.; & Robinson, Thomas N. (2008). Changes in Physical Activity from Walking to School. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 40(5), 324-326. PMCID: PMC2556128

Abstract

Active commuting to school (eg, walking or bicycling) has been suggested as a strategy to increase children's physical activity,1, 2 and a number of walk-to-school Web sites now exist.3, 4, 5 Several observational studies have found positive associations between walking to school and physical activity,6, 7, 8, 9 but they do not indicate the causal direction. Adult-chaperoned walks to school (ie, “walking school bus”1, 5) have been evaluated,10, 11, 12 but no research was found that assessed objectively measured changes in physical activity from walking to school. Walk-to-school programs can be a component of comprehensive school health plans, have particular relevance for school nurse/health staff and physical education faculty, and can be adapted to suit the school's physical and social environment. Therefore, the authors completed a small, short-term pilot and feasibility randomized control trial to (1) test the feasibility of the walking school bus as an intervention strategy and (2) to identify any changes in physical activity from walking to school.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2007.12.002

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2008

Journal Title

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Author(s)

Sirard, John R.
Alhassan, Sofiya
Spencer, Tirzah R.
Robinson, Thomas N.

PMCID

PMC2556128