Walking to School in Japan and Childhood Obesity Prevention: New Lessons From an Old Policy

Abstract

The walk-to-school practice has helped combat childhood obesity by providing regular physical activity. Recommendations to cities promoting walking to school are (1) base interventions on the existing network of schools and adapt the provision to other local organizations, (2) establish safety measures, and (3) respond specifically to local characteristics. Besides the well-established safety interventions, the policy's success may also be associated with Japan's low crime rate.

Transport-Based Social Exclusion in Rural Japan: A Case Study on Schooling Trips of High School Students

“…As previously mentioned, walking to school is a common practice in Japan. Although walking to school was not originally intended as an intervention to promote physical activity, unintended positive health outcomes from this practice can be observed, such as maintaining one of the lowest prevalence of childhood obesity in the world, a policy that likely benefits schoolchildren in terms of their levels of physical activity (Mori et al, 2012).…”

“…Particularly in urban areas, there are several schools within walking distance for children, although the districts and distances to and from school are decided based on the local characteristics of each municipality (Mori, Armada, & Willcox, 2012).…”

Aumento no uso de transporte motorizado privado no deslocamento das crianças para a escola na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil, 1997-2012

“…Os efeitos de longo prazo desse conjunto de ações podem ser constatados no Japão, país que desenvolve uma "cultura de caminhada à escola" pelo menos desde 1953 14 . Algumas iniciativas se destacam, como a proibição da circulação de carros em zonas escolares durante o horário de entrada e saída de alunos, a forte participação comunitária e a educação das crianças desde o jardim de infância sobre noções de trânsito.…”

“…Não por acaso, há raros deslocamentos para escola por modo motorizado (modos privados ou transporte público). A imensa maioria das crianças caminha, inclusive aqueles menores de oito anos de idade, sem o acompanhamento dos pais 14 .…”

Trunk-to-Leg Fat Ratio – An Emerging Early Marker of Childhood Adiposity, and Future Cardiometabolic Risks –

“…It is speculatively attributed to Japan's "revolutionary school lunches" 5 or to the "walking to school" policy. 6 The prevalence of overweight/obesity in these statistics has been determined by weight-based indices such as body mass index (BMI) or percent overweight (POW; determined on the basis of the Japanese standard body weights for height by age and sex: POW=(actual body weight-standard weight)/standard weight×100 (%)). When adiposity levels were categorized by besity is one of the leading causes of premature death and disease worldwide.…”