Potential of active transport to improve health, reduce healthcare costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: A modelling study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical inactivity contributes substantively to disease burden, especially in highly car dependent countries such as New Zealand (NZ). We aimed to quantify the future health gain, health-sector cost-savings, and change in greenhouse gas emissions that could be achieved by switching short vehicle trips to walking and cycling in New Zealand.

Methods

We used unit-level survey data to estimate changes in physical activity, distance travelled by mode, and air pollution for: (a) switching car trips under 1km to walking and (b) switching car trips under 5km to a mix of walking and cycling. We modelled uptake levels of 25%, 50%, and 100%, and assumed changes in transport behaviour were permanent. We then used multi-state life table modelling to quantify health impacts as

SUBMITTER: Mizdrak A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6636726 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature