These findings suggest that AST should be promoted to increase PA levels in children and adolescents and that cycling to/ from school is associated with increased cardiovascular fitness .
BACKGROUND The impact of  active school transport ( AST )  on daily physical activity ( PA ) levels , body composition and cardiovascular fitness remains unclear .
Determinants of sufficient daily activity in Australian primary school children.
AIMS Australian guidelines recommend that children participate in at least one hour of physical activity every day . We aim ed to measure physical activity  participation in a r and om sample of Australian primary school children and to determine the biological , behavioural , environmental and social influences associated with insufficient daily activity . METHOD We analysed the following cross-section data from a r and omly selected sample of children ( N=518 ) aged 5 to 12 years : age , gender , socioeconmic status ( SES ) indicators , family size , home play equipment availability , transport method to school , and estimated time per week in physical and sedentary activity . Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine variables that were associated with insufficient ( < 60 minutes ) daily activity . RESULTS Seventy-six children ( 15 % of the cohort ) failed to meet the minimum activity recommendations of 60 minutes of daily activity . These children were significantly less likely to walk or cycle to school ( adjusted odds ratio ( OR ) 0.43 ; 95 % CI=0.24 - 0.77 ) or participate in organised sports or activity ( OR 0.42 ; 95 % CI=0.28 - 0.64 ) and were more likely to spend in excess of 2 hours a day watching television of using a computer for entertainment ( OR 2.10 ( 1.16 - 3.78 ) . Age , gender , SES and family size were not significantly associated with insufficient activity . CONCLUSION There exists a significant proportion of the paediatric population who are insufficiently active . Interventions to encourage increased activity  in this sub-group may be successful if they seek to alter sedentary behaviour ( namely television use ) and method of transportation to and from school
These findings suggest that AST should be promoted to increase PA levels in children and adolescents and that cycling to/ from school is associated with increased cardiovascular fitness .
BACKGROUND The impact of  active school transport ( AST )  on daily physical activity ( PA ) levels , body composition and cardiovascular fitness remains unclear .