title: Perceived health status associated with transport choice for short distance trips.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the association between active transport and perceived general health, perceived psychological wellbeing and a healthy body weight in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected by an online questionnaire (N = 3663) in the Netherlands. Data collection was conducted over a period of one calendar year starting July 2012. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between choice of transport mode (bicycling vs car use and walking vs car use) and perceived general health, perceived psychological wellbeing and having a healthy weight respectively. The presented OR's may be interpreted as the likelihood of an average person in our dataset to have a better perceived health or body weight when choosing active transport (either bicycling or walking) over using the car for trips up to 7.5 km.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cycling was found to be significantly associated with a better perceived general health (OR = 1.35, 95%CI:1.07-1.70) and having a healthy body weight (OR = 1.52, 95%CI:1.28-1.79), but not with a better perceived psychological wellbeing (OR = 1.12, 95%CI:0.93-1.34). Walking was found to be significantly associated with having a healthy body weight (OR = 1.35, 95%CI:1.09-1.69), but not with a better perceived general (OR = 1.12, 95%CI:0.84-1.51) or psychological wellbeing (OR = 0.85, 95%CI:0.67-1.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that active transport use has been associated with a better perceived general health and a healthy body weight. However, more research is needed to be able to elucidate which factors cause this better health. No associations were observed between transport choice and perceived psychological wellbeing.
authors: VU University Amsterdam, Department of Health Sciences and EMGO institute for Health and Care Research, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Scheepers
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors: G C W
authors: GC
authors: Wendel-Vos
authors: Technical University Eindhoven, Department of the Built Environment, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
authors: P J V
authors: PJ
authors: van Wesemael
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre of Health and Society, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors: F R J
authors: FR
authors: den Hertog
authors: SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research, PO box 93113, 2509 AC Den Haag, the Netherlands.
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Stipdonk
authors: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), PHaRE, Mobile Health Unit, 2400 Mol, Belgium; School for Mobility, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors: L L R
authors: LL
authors: Int Panis
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors: E E M M
authors: EE
authors: van Kempen
authors: VU University Amsterdam, Department of Health Sciences and EMGO institute for Health and Care Research, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Schuit
keywords: Cycling; Healthy weight; Mental health; Perceived general health; Psychological wellbeing; Transport choice; Walking