Active transport to school and health-enhancing physical activity: a rapid review of European evidence

Abstract

ABSTRACT Evidence suggests that children and adolescents fail to meet international physical activity recommendations and are at heightened risk of non-communicable conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Active Transport is one of a set of school-based strategies proposed to help meet daily physical activity targets. Physically active ways of travelling to and from school have received growing support as a simple, accessible, and inexpensive population-level strategy that can be integrated into students’ routines. This study’s objective was to review evidence from across Europe of Active Transport ’s contribution to promoting health-enhancing physical activity. The approach involves examining two bodies of literature: the relationship between Active Transport and physical activity levels; and the effects of interventions to promote physical activity through Active Transport. A rapid review protocol gathered and analysed published academic evidence related to these topics. This is the first review to take a European focus, indicating that Active Transport interventions have produced mixed results. Nevertheless, well-designed interventions can significantly contribute to increasing children’s physical activity levels.