Article

Is active travel associated with greater physical activity? The contribution of commuting and non-commuting active travel to total physical activity in adults.

Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit and UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN) School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Preventive Medicine (impact factor: 3.22). 07/2012; 55(3):206-11. DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.06.028
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT To complement findings that active travel reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, an understanding of the mechanisms through which active travel may lead to improved health is required.
The aim of this study is to examine the descriptive epidemiology of all active travel and its associations with recreational and total physical activity in a sample of adults in the UK.
In April 2010, data were collected from 3516 adults as part of the baseline survey for the iConnect study in the UK. Travel and recreational physical activity were assessed using detailed seven-day recall instruments. Linear regression analyses, controlling for demographic characteristics, examined associations between active travel, defined as any walking and cycling for transport, and recreational and total physical activity.
65% of respondents (mean age 50.5years) reported some form of active travel, accumulating an average of 195min/week (standard deviation=188.6). There were no differences in the recreational physical activity levels of respondents by travel mode category. Adults who used active travel did however report significantly higher total physical activity than those who did not.
Substantial physical activity can be accumulated through active travel which also contributes to greater total physical activity.

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    Article: Health-related factors associated with mode of travel to work.
    Melissa Bopp, Andrew T Kaczynski, Matthew E Campbell
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    ABSTRACT: Active commuting (AC) to the workplace is a potential strategy for incorporating physical activity into daily life and is associated with health benefits. This study examined the association between health-related factors and mode of travel to the workplace. Methods. A volunteer convenience sample of employed adults completed an online survey regarding demographics, health-related factors, and the number of times/week walking, biking, driving, and using public transit to work (dichotomized as no walk/bike/drive/PT and walk/bike/drive/PT 1 + x/week). Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of each mode of transport and meeting PA recommendations from AC according to demographics and health-related factors. Results. The sample (n = 1175) was aged 43.5 ± 11.4 years and was primarily White (92.7%) and female (67.9%). Respondents reported walking (7.3%), biking (14.4%), taking public transit (20.3%), and driving (78.3%) to work at least one time/week. Among those reporting AC, 9.6% met PA recommendations from AC alone. Mode of travel to work was associated with several demographic and health-related factors, including age, number of chronic diseases, weight status, and AC beliefs. Discussion. Mode of transportation to the workplace and health-related factors such as disease or weight status should be considered in future interventions targeting AC.
    Journal of Environmental and Public Health 01/2013; 2013:242383.
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Keywords

active travel
 
associations
 
baseline survey
 
chronic diseases
 
demographic characteristics
 
descriptive epidemiology
 
differences
 
greater total physical activity
 
iConnect study
 
instruments
 
Linear regression analyses
 
morbidity
 
recreational physical activity
 
recreational physical activity levels
 
seven-day
 
Substantial physical activity
 
total physical activity
 
travel mode category
 
UK