Active transportation to school over 2 years in relation to weight status and physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively examine potential benefits of active commuting to school on measures of weight status and physical activity in a sample of youth.


METHODS
A cohort of students from seven elementary schools was measured four times--in the fall and spring of fourth grade (N = 1083) and fifth grade (N = 924). Participants were classified as active (walking, biking, or skateboarding to school almost every day for baseline analyses or at least 2 d/wk for analyses of consistent active commuting) or non-active commuters to school. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. Height, weight, and skinfolds were objectively assessed.


RESULTS
Boys who actively commuted to school had lower BMI (p < 0.01) and skinfolds (p < 0.05) than non-active commuters to school in the fourth grade. Active commuting to school over 2 years was not associated with BMI change or overweight status.


CONCLUSIONS
Walking and cycling to school may contribute to preventing excessive weight gain, or leaner children may walk or cycle to school.
Rosenberg
Dori E
DE
Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University and University of California, San Deigo, California, USA. drosenberg@paceproject.org
Sallis
James F
JF
Conway
Terry L
TL
Cain
Kelli L
KL
McKenzie
Thomas L
TL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*