Active Transport to School, Literature Review Example

In the developed worlds, it has come into recognition that Active travel to school (ATS) is very important as it offers physical activity for children and the youth. There is a strong relationship between ATS and health-related fitness (HRF) among children and the youth. In fact, a systematic search conducted in December 2009 to examine the relationship between ATS and weight status reported significant associations. Further, a longitudinal study, indicated that ATS positively associate with cardio respiratory fitness in youth.

Physical activity (PA) is a very essential health behavior as highlighted in the 1996 Surgeon General’s Report. The report established health benefits associated with PA as attenuated risks of heart disease and certain cancers among other lifestyle diseases. ATS is a very important physical activity (PA). It helps in the management of certain mental illnesses, and most importantly, ATS has played an effective role in preventing obesity. Obesity is a lifestyle disease, which prevails amongst children from elite families, who have poor eating habits and minimum or no exercise at all (Lubans et al 2010). Obesity brings in the development of type II diabetes and hypertension among other diseases. Research shows that ATS prevents 2-3 pound weight gain per annum; thereby ATS is the key factor in lifestyle disease prevention.

We compare the approximated distance from school to home of later years (2000 to date) to the past years (1960s). In the late 1960s approximately 35% of students lived within a mile of their school, a proportion that felled to 20% in 2000. This decline explains the reduction in rates of students walking to school. This marks a missed opportunity for PA especially in America.  Records show that there are only an estimated 15% of American youths who walk or cycle to school (Journal of Planning Literature 2011). These records lower rates of ATS in America compared to Europe and Asian. A study showed that only 4.6% of students in America use ATS. With regard to this, they loose a lot in terms of the positives associated with ATS. Apart from reducing obesity rates, ATS plays a critical role in decreasing traffic congestion and attenuate, which would further decelerate the rate of emission of greenhouse gasses.

According to the University of Toronto, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, the percentage of overweight or obese children rose from 14% to 31% in boys. In girls, the number rose from 14% to 25%/. It occurs that the obesogenic environments increasingly promote high-energy intake, and unfortunately, there is limited physical inactivity associated.

Spanier, Marshall and Faulkner sought to discuss the whole issue at large; obesity and other lifestyle diseases, Physical activity (PA), and ATS. They found out that sedentary behavior leads to obesity and other lifestyle diseases (Lubans et al 2010). McMillan, another researcher, places blame on parents who have the final decision on which means of transport to use, the school that they attend, and children’s eating habits. Parents should develop a strategy that encourages ATS and other physical activities.

Observations

The program on active travel to school comprises of the different activities that children of proper school age could actually embrace as part of their daily routine in going to and from school. Such routine is considered to be an activity closely likened to regular exercise. In consideration with this, the observation that was garnered from school teachers, school security guards and the students themselves, the ATS program approach have been assumed to be a successful application especially in connection with the desire of keeping the mental and physical condition of the students consistently alert. To be able to note the observations that have been garnered, the notes on the interview that was considered as part of the process shall be given attention to in this section.

First to consider is that of the school bus drivers. When asked about the ATS program application, they responded positively on the matter saying that the students became more familiar with the routes going to school and the school bus drivers did not mind having to service fewer students to and from school. The specific routes they take to and from school, according to the bus drivers, are relatively safe hence making their walks more convincingly vital than crucial for the children to take.

The security guards who see the children coming in and out of school have observed that the children who walk their way to and from school are livelier when they enter class and are more cheerful all throughout the day. It seemed that these young children had the chance to enjoy not only the walk but the routes they take as well; the ATS program gave them the chance to appreciate their environment more and become more acquainted with the elements of nature that gets-them-going. A guard even mentioned that one of the children who walk to school used to be all-grumpy in the morning when he enters the gate; however, when he started walking, it seemed as if he has gained some energy to face the school days more positively.

The teachers, who have a direct chance to see the progress of the children, responded to the idea positively as well. They say that the children who walk to and from school have become more alert and responsive in class compared to those who chose to continue taking the bus service regularly. Most of the teachers who were asked about the developments of the children mentioned that walking really created a different environment for the class, which was positively affecting the progress of the children with regards their studies.

The students who were interviewed personally mentioned that walking gave them a different view of each day. One said that it was like an adventure every day. He expected to see new things and meet new people each day that he walks through the same route. He said he became more excited in going to school now compared to when he was still taking the bus service. What made this program special for the children was the thought that each day offers a new ‘adventure’ that they could experience along the way to school.

As positive as the results are with the children who took walking exercises to and from school, it is expected that the same effect would be garnered if people older than the children would take the same initiative to stay healthy and strong. Not only is the said program effective for the health, it is also helpful in reducing environmental issues that concern pollution that involves transportation. It only takes the right motivation and strong determination to gain the best benefits from the ATS program.

References

Faulkner et al. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2010), 7:62 http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/7/1/62 J Community Health (2009) 34:129–134

Journal of Planning Literature (2011) 26(2) 127-150 http://jpl.sagepub.com

Lubans et al. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2011, 8:5 http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/8/1/5

Pont, Karina, Ziviani, Jenny, Wadley, David, Abbott, Rebecca. (2011). The Model of Children’s Active Travel (M-CAT): A conceptual framework for examining factors influencing children’s active travel. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58 (3): 138-44.