The Association between Walking to School, Daily Step Counts and Meeting Step Targets in 5- to 17-Year-Old Australian Children

• DOI: 10.1123/pes.21.4.520
• Publication Date: 2016-08-10T11:48:51Z
• Authors: Rebecca A. Abbott; Doune Macdonald; Smita Nambiar; Peter S.W. Davies
• Keywords: Male; Adolescent; Ergometry; Physiology; 370; Transportation; Health Promotion; Walking; Motor Activity; Pediatrics; Medical Records; 03 medical and health sciences; C1; 0302 clinical medicine; 920501 Child Health; Humans; Child; Students; 111712 Health Promotion; 4. Education; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child, Preschool; Female; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science; Queensland; Sport Sciences

Objective measurement of daily steps was used to assess whether children ( n = 2,076) in Years 1, 5 and 10 who reported walking or from school were more active likely reach recommended step targets than those driven took public transport school. Walking associated with higher school-day older (16,238 vs 15,275 for Year male p < .05, 13,521 12,502 female .01, 12,109 11,373 .05). The proportion met thresholds walked compared motorized transport, this significant females (71.7% 54.5%, .01). This study suggests that has potential contribute significantly activity levels increases the likelihood attaining targets. These data should encourage policy concerned built environment provide support opportunities