WALK THIS WAY FOR HEALTH

After reviewing decades of epidemiological evidence, the US Surgeon General concluded that physical inactivity was as important as smoking and diet as a risk factor for major causes of disease. Moreover, to gain health benefit the report recommended 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise - even brisk walking taken in three 10-minute bouts. Many Australians do not walk and many others walk, but do insufficient walking to benefit their health. Results from a social ecological study of 1803 healthy working adults aged 18-59 years in a 408 km2 area of metropolitan Perth are presented. Overall, in the previous two weeks 72.1 percent of respondents had walked for transport and 68.5 percent had walked for recreation. However, only 17.3 percent did six 30-minute sessions per week of walking for recreation, health, fitness or going to and from somewhere. Recreational walking was the only form of exercise for 13.1 percent of respondents, but of these, 68.2 percent did insufficient to benefit their health. Similarly, walking for transport was the only form of exercise for 7.4 percent of respondents, but 86.4 percent did insufficient to benefit their health. Individual factors, social environmental factors and physical environmental factors that influence walking as recommended are presented. Clearly, promoting walking and cycling and greater use of public transport, will not only achieve risk factor objectives, but will help achieve broader public health and community objectives related to a healthier, greener and safer environment. However, it requires a comprehensive approach including long-term awareness raising and educational campaigns; fundamental changes in local and state government policy; and development of supportive infrastructure that encourages walking, cycling and public transport use. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E204599.

• Corporate Authors:

  WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

  441 MURRAY STREET
  PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA  Australia  6000
• Authors:
  • Giles-Corti, Billie
• Conference:
  • AUSTRALIA: WALKING THE 21ST CENTURY, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 2001, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, VOL 1
• Publication Date: 2001-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 55-68

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Conferences; Health; Human factors; Pedestrians; Public participation; Questionnaires
• Uncontrolled Terms: Change
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 8006: Australia; 8525: Conference; 2144: Health; 2257: Human factor; 9147: Interview; 9048: Modification; 1733: Pedestrian; 142: Public participation
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00937202
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 5 2003 12:00AM