Active travel may have positive effects on health outcomes , but there is little robust evidence to date of the effectiveness of active transport interventions for reducing obesity .
BACKGROUND Increasing active travel ( primarily walking and cycling ) has been widely advocated for reducing obesity levels and achieving other population health benefits .
However , the strength of evidence underpinning this strategy is unclear .
This study aim ed to assess the evidence that active travel has significant health benefits .
Predictors of adoption and maintenance of vigorous physical activity in men and women.
BACKGROUND This study examined predictors of adoption and maintenance of vigorous physical activity over time in a sample of 1,719 r and omly selected women and men . METHODS Based on reported frequency of vigorous exercise in a mail survey at baseline , subjects were classified as sedentary ( zero sessions per week ) , intermediate ( one to two sessions per week ) , or active ( three or more sessions per week ) . RESULTS On the same survey subjects reported on 25 potential determinants of physical activity based on a comprehensive learning model . Twenty-four months later , 85 % of subjects were resurveyed , and their physical activity levels were classified . Within each baseline category and gender subgroup , predictors of follow-up physical activity were identified . In multivariate analyses , adoption of  vigorous exercise by sedentary men was predicted by self-efficacy , age ( inverse ) , and neighborhood environment ( inverse ) . Adoption by sedentary women was predicted by education , self-efficacy , and friend and family support for exercise . Maintenance of vigorous physical activity  was predicted by self-efficacy and age ( inverse ) for initially active men and by education for initially active women . CONCLUSION These results suggest that factors influencing adoption are different for men and women , and there may be different factors influencing adoption versus maintenance of vigorous physical activity
Active travel may have positive effects on health outcomes , but there is little robust evidence to date of the effectiveness of active transport interventions for reducing obesity .
BACKGROUND Increasing active travel ( primarily walking and cycling ) has been widely advocated for reducing obesity levels and achieving other population health benefits .
However , the strength of evidence underpinning this strategy is unclear .
This study aim ed to assess the evidence that active travel has significant health benefits .