Prev Med. 2012 Jun 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Bicycling to school is associated with improvements in physical fitness over a 6-year follow-up period in Swedish children.
Chillón P, Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Evenson KR, Labayen I, Martínez-Vizcaino V, Hurtig-Wennlöf A, Veidebaum T, Sjöström M.
Source
Department of Physical Education and Sport, School of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Ctra Alfacar, s/n, 18001 Granada, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether modes of commuting to school at baseline and changes in commuting were related to 6-year changes in cardiorespiratory fitness in youth.
METHODS:
A total of 262 (142 girls) Swedish children (9years at entry) were measured at baseline (1998/9) and follow-up (2004/5). Mode of commuting to school was assessed by questionnaire and fitness by a maximal bicycle test.
RESULTS:
At baseline, 34% of children used passive modes of commuting (e.g., car, motorcycle, bus, train), 54% walked, and 12% bicycled to school. Six years later the percentage of bicyclists increased 19% and the percentage of walkers decreased 19%. On average, children who bicycled to school increased their fitness 13% (p=0.03) more than those who used passive modes and 20% (p=0.002) more than those who walked. Children who used passive modes or walked at baseline and bicycled to school at 6years later increased their fitness 14% (p=0.001) more than those who remained using passive modes or walking at follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS:
Implementing initiatives that encourage bicycling to school may be a useful strategy to increase cardiorespiratory fitness of children.
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