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Incidental physical activity in Melbourne, Australia: health and economic impacts of mode of transport and suburban location
Author(s) -
Beavis Margaret J.,
Moodie Marj
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he14057
Subject(s) - population health , public health , public transport , health economics , environmental health , geography , population , physical activity , mode of transport , health promotion , private transport , medicine , business , demography , socioeconomics , gerontology , transport engineering , economics , engineering , sociology , nursing , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Issue addressed Using the known health impacts of physical activity (PA), levels of incidental PA in Melbourne were analysed, and after determining key behavioural associations, economic modelling estimated potential long‐term health and economic benefits of changes in active transport (AT) patterns. Methods A cross‐sectional survey (VISTA07–08) obtained daily travel data from 29 840 individuals of all ages in Melbourne evenly spread over 364 days of the year. Correlates of adequate PA were analysed. The health and economic impact of changes in AT from postulated changes in (1) mode of transport, and (2) transport use by urban sub‐region, were modelled. Results 15.1% of individuals had adequate incidental PA. Private vehicle users averaged 10.0 min PA, public transport users 35.2 min and walkers/cyclists 38.3 min daily. Distance from city centre was strongly inversely correlated with adequate PA. Conservative modelling of postulated changes in AT patterns found annual savings of 34–272 deaths, 114–903 new cases of disease and 442–3511 DALYs. Lifetime savings accounted for 17 300–70 100 days of home‐based/leisure time production, and savings of $1.5–12.2 million in the health sector and $2.9–22.9 million in production. Conclusions Public transport users, walkers, cyclists and those living closer to the city centre were more likely to gain travel‐related PA sufficient for health benefits. Both transport mode and urban location were associated with levels of travel‐related PA that have significant health and financial impacts. So what? Improving population levels of incidental PA may improve health and economic outcomes. This may require changes in urban and transport infrastructure.