Active school transport, physical activity levels and body weight of children and youth: A systematic review
Abstract
Objectives Active school transport (AST) may be an important source of children's physical activity (PA). Innovative solutions that increase PA time for children, without putting added pressure on the school curriculum, merit consideration. Before implementing such solutions, it is important to demonstrate that active school transport is associated with health-related outcomes.Methods Following a standardized protocol, we conducted a systematic review of published research to address this question and explore whether children who actively commute to school also have a healthier body weight. Online searches of 5 electronic databases were conducted. Potential studies were screened on the basis of objective measures of physical activity.Results Thirteen studies were included in this review. Nine studies demonstrated that children who actively commute to school accumulate significantly more PA and two studies reported that they expended significantly more kilocalories per day. Where studies examined body weight (n=10), only one reported active commuters having a lower body weight.Conclusions These studies demonstrate that active school commuters tend to be more physically active overall than passive commuters. However, evidence for the impact of AST in promoting healthy body weights for children and youth is not compelling.
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In cross-sectional observational analyses, children who actively commute have higher total physical activity levels than passive commuters, although not lower BMI/adiposity.
“In cross-sectional observational analyses, as compared with passive commuters (eg, bus, car), children who actively commute (eg, walking, bicycling) have higher total physical activity levels, although not lower BMI/adiposity.264”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [264]
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- Authors
- Faulkner, G. E. J., Buliung, R. N., Flora, P. K., & Fusco, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Faulkner, Guy E.J.
- Venue
- Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-01
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-8
- ISSN
- 0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2043732718
- Cited by
- 566
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 46
- FWCI
- 3.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- active school transport, children's physical activity, body weight, children and young people, school commuting, passive commuting, childhood obesity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Body Weight, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Schools, Transportation
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