Originally published August 30 2005
Researchers discover kids who walk to school are more physically active
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Scotsman reports that children who walk to school are more likely to be physically active than students who travel by automobile, according to experts at Edinburgh University.
A study by experts at Edinburgh University discovered that youngsters who travel by car, bus or train to school are less active during the morning break, at lunchtime and after school.
Dr Leslie Alexander, who led the study, said the findings underlined the need for people to get into the habit of living an active life at as early an age as possible.
She said: "Of course, it is easy to predict that kids who walk to and from school get more physical activity compared to those who don't.
The pupils who took part in the study each wore accelerometers which measured their levels of activity throughout the day.
Their activity levels outside school hours were also significantly higher than those using a car, bus, or train.
In all, 87 per cent of pupils using a car, bus, or train accumulated an average of 60 or more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on weekdays, as against 100 per cent of pupils who walked both ways.
Similar results have been reported in the past for ten-year-old children, although among five-year-olds, the mode of travel to school did not significantly affect overall physical activity, suggesting that walking to school may be more effective for older children.
It gives children the chance to explore their surrounding area and it can also give them space to think.
Scottish ministers have made tackling childhood obesity one of their key priorities and have introduced measures aimed at improving the health of the nation's young people.
Peter Peacock, the education minister, announced last year that from 2007-8, every pupil would receive at least two hours of physical education a week, while an extra 400 specialist PE teachers would also be recruited.
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