School Transportation and Bone Health in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Alwis Gayani, Linden Christian, Dencker Magnus, Stenevi-Lundgren Susanna, Gardsell Per, Karlsson Magnus K
Primary Institution: Lund University
Hypothesis
Does the mode of school transportation affect bone mineral accrual and width in pre-pubertal children?
Conclusion
The mode of school transportation does not significantly influence bone mineral accrual or gain in bone width over a 12-month period in pre-pubertal children.
Supporting Evidence
- Children who walked or cycled to school had similar bone mineral content and width compared to those who traveled by car or bus.
- All children met the recommended level of 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
- The distance to school was relatively short, limiting the impact of walking or cycling on overall activity levels.
Takeaway
Walking or biking to school doesn't help kids' bones grow stronger because they are already very active every day.
Methodology
The study compared bone mineral content and width in children who walked or cycled to school versus those who traveled by car or bus over 12 months.
Potential Biases
Self-selection of transportation mode may introduce bias, as it was based on a questionnaire without objective classification.
Limitations
The study only evaluated children aged 7-9 years, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to older children.
Participant Demographics
The study included 97 girls and 133 boys aged 7-9 years, predominantly Caucasian.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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