Resource Library

This study assesses the effects of interventions to promote walking in individuals and populations by conducting a systematic review of published and unpublished reports in any language identified by searching 25 electronic databases, by searching websites, reference lists, and existing systematic reviews, and by contacting experts.

Two small lifestyle changes, as promoted by the America on the Move initiative, in diet (to eliminate 100 kcal/day) and physical activity (to walk an additional 2000 steps/day), could be useful for addressing childhood obesity by preventing excess weight gain in families.

National estimates suggest that 14%-19% of children walk to school while state and local estimates suggest that 4% to 20% of children walk to school.

The notion that children cannot achieve academic excellence without good health, a supportive social circle, and a safe environment seems common sense to families and educational policy makers alike. 

This paper examines how children’s travel to school is affected by school choice and providing bus service.

This study examines the relationship between relative weight and school attendance among 1,069 fourth to sixth graders from nine elementary schools in the inner city of Philadelphia, PA.

Financially disadvantaged populations are more likely to live in communities that do not support healthy choices. This paper investigates whether certain characteristics of the built environment are associated with obesity or coronary heart disease (CHD) risk among uninsured low-income women.

By quantifying the magnitude of energy imbalance responsible for the increase in body weight among US children, this study looks to provide salient targets for population intervention.

In 2003-2004, 17.1% of US children and adolescents were overweight.

This article examines single-use, low-density land use patterns and reports that a 5% increase in neighborhood walkability is associated with:

This study examines the link between childhood overweight status and school outcomes (academic achievement, teacher reported internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, social skills, approaches to learning, school absences, and grade repetition) between kindergarten entry and end of the third grade.

This article examines single-use, low-density land use patterns and reports that a 5% increase in neighborhood walkability is associated with:

Marin County’s Safe Routes to School Program has been successful in promoting walking and biking to school. Much of the program’s success can be attributed to the contributions made by parents, teachers, and community volunteers.

This article reviews what is known about the built environment and its relationship to physical activity.

This study evaluates and assesses 10 Safe Routes to School traffic improvement projects in terms of expected outcomes for pedestrian and bicycle safety as well as for amount of walking.

This is a thorough report on the relationship between the built environment and physical activity that reviews physical activity and health, long term trends affecting physical activity levels, current research on the built environment and physical activity, as well as current knowledge gaps.

This study evaluates the California Safe Routes to School legislation which provides funds for construction projects such as sidewalks, traffic lights, pedestrian crossing improvements, and bicycle paths.

This review uses the Transportation Research Information Services database to identify studies on engineering to reduce speed, separate pedestrians from vehicles, and increase visibility of pedestrians.

This article focuses on the relationship between the built environment, travel behavior, and public health outcomes.

This study uses an accelerometer and questions describing travel habits to evaluate physical activity levels among primary school children.