Last Child Walking?—Prevalence and Trends in Active Transportation

Larouche, Richard

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-811931-0.00004-1

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…As our simulated results indicated, economic development and urban sprawl are more influential than urban design and crime in terms of ATS. This is consistent with empirical studies of ATS in both China [18,48] and other countries [49,50] that the long distance to school is a primary barrier that prevents children from ATS, as well as our hypothesis at the beginning that the decline of ATS, may be a by-product of urbanization. If the trend of economic growth keeps stable in China, it will be extremely challenging to reverse the decline pattern of ATS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Is the decline of active travel to school unavoidable by-products of economic growth and urbanization in developing countries?

Yang

Xue

Liu

et al. 2019

Sustainable Cities and Society

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Background: Economic growth and urbanization may contribute to the decline of active travel to school (ATS). We aim to explain the change of ATS in China between 1997 and 2011 and to predict the prevalence of ATS in China within the next 30 years using various scenario. Methods: We developed a system dynamics model to study ATS and the model assumes the prevalence of ATS is determined by the dynamic interaction of four exogenous and eight endogenous variables. Results: The simulated prevalence of ATS is roughly consistent with empirical data. Economic development and urban sprawl are more influential than urban design and crime in terms of ATS. Under a relatively reasonable scenario, the prevalence of ATS is projected to decrease from 73% in 2011 to 65% in 2014, and the prevalence of childhood overweight & obesity is projected to increase from 24% in 2011 to 34% in 2041. With the maintaining of economic development grow, to control urban sprawl is the most effective measure to promote ATS and decrease childhood obesity.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Is the decline of active travel to school unavoidable by-products of economic growth and urbanization in developing countries?

Yang

Xue

Liu

et al. 2019

Sustainable Cities and Society

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“…The use of these active modes leads not only to health benefits such as greater levels of cardiorespiratory fitness [ 3 , 5 ] and better cardiometabolic health indicators [ 6 ] among children who actively commute, but also to other co-benefits, such as better mental health outcomes [ 7 , 8 ], greater interaction with their environment [ 9 ], and reduced transportation-related emissions and pollution [ 10 ]. Despite these benefits, current evidence suggests that this behaviour is declining in many countries [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These variations represent an opportunity to identify those countries that are succeeding with active transportation behaviours, and those that require action to increase active transportation or prevent a decline in this behaviour. However, to the best of our knowledge, the few international comparisons of data on active transportation among children and adolescents include mostly small groups of countries or the availability of national representative data is limited [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Therefore, the Global Matrix 3.0 of Report Card grades on physical activity among children and youth provides an opportunity to describe and examine the global situation of active transportation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profiles of Active Transportation among Children and Adolescents in the Global Matrix 3.0 Initiative: A 49-Country Comparison

González

Aubert

Barnes

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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This article aims to compare the prevalence of active transportation among children and adolescents from 49 countries at different levels of development. The data was extracted from the Report Cards on Physical Activity for Children and Youth from the 49 countries that participated in the Global Matrix 3.0 initiative. Descriptive statistics and a latent profile analysis with active transportation, Human Development Index and Gini index as latent variables were conducted. The global average grade was a “C”, indicating that countries are succeeding with about half of children and youth (47–53%). There is wide variability in the prevalence and in the definition of active transportation globally. Three different profiles of countries were identified based on active transportation grades, Human Development Index (HDI) and income inequalities. The first profile grouped very high HDI countries with low prevalence of active transport and low inequalities. The second profile grouped low and middle HDI countries with high prevalence of active transportation and higher inequalities. And the third profile was characterized by the relatively high prevalence of active transportation and more variability in the socioeconomic variables. Promising policies from countries under each profile were identified. A unified definition of active transportation and contextualized methods for its assessment are needed to advance in surveillance and practice.

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“…Complicating factors for school food policy making in developing country contexts include that schools are situated within highly complex, and often largely unregulated, food environments (27)(28)(29)(30), that typically include informal food vendors surrounding schools and selling predominately unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages (17,27,(30)(31)(32). The in uence of informal vendors is compounded because children in lower socioeconomic settings are more likely to walk to school (33)(34)(35)(36), thereby increasing their exposure to unhealthy alternatives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying opportunities to strengthen school food environments in the Pacific: a case study in Samoa

Reeve

Thow

Bell³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Despite global recommendations to prioritise policies that create healthy environments within education institutions, the implementation of effective healthy school food policies has proved challenging for many countries. This study examined the experience of Samoa in introducing a stronger policy to improve the healthiness of school food environments. Our aim was to identify opportunities to strengthen healthy school food policy implementation in Samoa and other comparable contexts. Methods: We used a qualitative case study approach, underpinned by policy science theory. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 30 informants, coupled with analysis of relevant documents, to generate a detailed understanding of the relevant policy implementation processes in Samoa, and the perspectives and capacities of key implementation actors. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Health Policy Analysis Triangle supplemented by other policy theories relevant to policy process. Results: Samoa’s school food policy operationalizes international ‘best practice’ recommendations. We found health policymakers and leaders in Samoa to be strongly committed to improving school food environments. Despite this, there continued to be challenges in ensuring compliance with the school nutrition standards. Key issues that negatively impacted on the policy’s effectiveness were the lack of priority given to school food by stakeholders outside of health, the high prevalence of unhealthy food in the areas immediately surrounding schools, and the high degree of agency exercised by actors in and around the school. We noted several opportunities for policies to be effectively implemented and sustained. Respondents identified community level leaders as potentially pivotal stakeholders, particularly in a context where school governance draws heavily on community representation.Conclusions: Despite previous commitment to the issue, political and community leaders need to be re-engaged to identify the institutional and operational changes required to improve the implementation of healthy school food policies. Strong incentives for compliance and effective enforcement mechanisms are likely to be crucial to success.

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Last Child Walking?—Prevalence and Trends in Active Transportation

Cited by 15 publications

References 56 publications

Is the decline of active travel to school unavoidable by-products of economic growth and urbanization in developing countries?

Is the decline of active travel to school unavoidable by-products of economic growth and urbanization in developing countries?

Profiles of Active Transportation among Children and Adolescents in the Global Matrix 3.0 Initiative: A 49-Country Comparison

Identifying opportunities to strengthen school food environments in the Pacific: a case study in Samoa

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