Does active transport displace other physical activity? A systematic review of the evidence

To determine if active transport results in net additional physical activity and the extent of any displacement of physical activity in other domains. Systematic review and quality appraisal of peer-reviewed primary articles. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, EBSCO Host (CINAHL, Business Source Complete, Business Source Ultimate Sport Discus), Scopus, Web of Science, SAGE, and Taylor & Francis Online, and reference lists from included studies. An article was included if it reported differences in adults’ exposure to transport-related physical activity levels related to differences in total physical activity, or physical activity in all domains other than transport. Only peer-reviewed, primary studies published from the year 2000 to 24 April 2023 in the English language were included. A total of 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. All but one were observational in nature. Quality scores varied from 2 to 14 out of 14 on a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Of 35 studies, 29 found that physical activity arising from uptake of active transport resulted in net additional physical activity. A total of 27 studies reported no displacement. Six reported mixed findings and two suggested displacement of physical activity, one low-quality study and another looking at population aged ≥65 years. It was not possible to pool the results. Active transport can increase overall levels of physical activity. Although measurement difficulties preclude a definitive answer, current evidence suggests that among adults, there is little or no compensatory reduction in physical activity in other domains in response to increases in active transport use, with the possible exception of older population groups.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2023.101631
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140523000671
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/22141405
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Wanjau, Mary Njeri
  • 0000-0002-4588-7528
  • Dalugoda, Yohani
  • Oberai, Mehak
  • 0000-0002-6204-6333
  • Möller, Holger
  • Standen, Christopher
  • 0000-0002-8027-6773
  • Haigh, Fiona
  • Milat, Andrew
  • Lucas, Peta
  • Veerman, J Lennert
  • 0000-0002-3206-8232
• Publication Date: 2023-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 101631
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport & Health
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2214-1405
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22141405

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Nonmotorized transportation; Physical condition; Physical fitness; Physiology
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01886139
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 2023 2:56PM