A Walking School Bus Program
This project of the Columbia, Mo., Active Living by Design grant program evaluated the physical activity levels of children participating in a school-wide walking school bus (WSB) program at three elementary schools. Walking to school is a good way for children to get moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity. But safety concerns sometimes limit children from walking unattended to school.
In Columbia in August 2007, 1,000 children were given a flyer inviting them to participate in the WSB program. Children who self-selected received accelerometers. Researchers collected data on body mass index, television habits and other demographics from 38 WSB participants and 39 nonparticipants.
No differences were observed in 7-day physical activity measures between WSB participants and nonparticipants. It is possible, the authors concede, that exposure to the promotional information on the WSB by participants and nonparticipants alike, influenced the physical activity of both groups of children.
Other studies have shown that physical activity declines in children between the ages of 12 and 18 years. In this study, when researchers looked at the relationship of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity and age, they found that the slope of the regression line was steeper in those children not participating in the WSB program.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Presents the Evaluation of RWJF's Active Living by Design Program
- 1. Lessons from a Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating Active Living by Design
- 2. Capturing Community Change
- 3. Identifying the Role of Community Partnerships in Creating Change to Support Active Living
- 4. Assessment for Active Living
- 5. Evaluation of Physical Projects and Policies from the Active Living by Design Partnerships
- 6. Programs and Promotions: Approaches by 25 Active Living by Design Partnerships
- 7. Active Living by Design: Sustainability Strategies
- 8. Concept Mapping: Priority Community Strategies to Create Changes to Support Active Living
- 9. Evaluation of Active Living by Design
- 10. Evaluation Results from an Active Living Intervention in Somerville, Massachusetts
- 11. Bike, Walk, and Wheel
- 12. A Walking School Bus Program
- 13. Creating a Moment for Active Living via a Media Campaign
- 14. Isanti County Active Living
- 15. Using a Bicycle-Pedestrian Count to Assess Active Living in Downtown Wilkes-Barre
- 16. Active Living by Design's Contributions to the Movement
- 17. Healthy People and the Design Sciences
- 18. Active Living by Design and Its Evaluation
- 19. A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of School-Based Active Living Programs