Regional comparisons of walking or bicycling for fun or exercise and for active transport in a nationally distributed sample of community-based youth.

BACKGROUND

Physical activity helps prevent excessive weight gain in youth. Few studies have examined regional variations in common activities, walking and bicycling.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim was to examine participation in previous 7-day walking/bicycling for active transport and for fun/exercise by region, gender and age groups.

METHODS

Children (n = 2693) from 130 diverse, geographically distributed US communities reported participation in previous 7-day walking/bicycling. Mixed model ANOVAs were used to compare walking/bicycling by region, gender and age groups using Healthy Communities Study data.

RESULTS

Walking/bicycling for fun/exercise was higher in the Midwest, South and West compared with the Northeast, with the same regional patterns for boys, girls and 9-11-year olds. Walking/bicycling to non-school destinations was higher in the Midwest compared with the South and Northeast, with the same pattern for girls and 9-11-year olds. Walking/bicycling to school was higher Midwest, Northeast and West compared with the South, with similar patterns for girls and 12-15-year olds.

CONCLUSIONS

Walking/bicycling for fun/exercise and to non-school destinations had higher prevalence than active transport to school. The Northeast reported lower walking/bicycling for fun/exercise; the South and Northeast reported lower walking/bicycling to non-school destinations. Program/policy initiatives should consider contextual demographic influences, as well as purpose/destination of walking/bicycling.