Walk to School Day: Taking Steps Toward Improved Physical Activity

Tomorrow—Wednesday, October 3—is International Walk to School Day.

Since 1997, communities and schools have been using International Walk to School Day as an opportunity to change community culture and create options for getting around that foster greater physical activity and are more inviting for people of all ages. International Walk to School Day exposes children and their families to the benefits of walking and biking to school and encourages them to engage in these activities year-round.

Statistics show that children are less physically active today than ever before, with nearly one quarter of children getting no physical activity at all. In 1969, nearly half of all children in the U.S. walked or bicycled to and from school; today, that number has plummeted to 13 percent. Not coincidentally, rates of childhood obesity in the United States have increased dramatically in the past 40 years, and lack of physical activity for children has been identified as one of the key factors.

Each year, as part of its continuing commitment to building healthy communities, Kaiser Permanente physicians and employees engage in walk-to-school activities with families and students to mark Walk to School Day. This year, Kaiser Permanente and Safe Routes to School National Partnership will be teaming up on a series of events to increase awareness about the need for walkable and bikeable communities.

This year’s day of celebration holds added prominence for Kaiser Permanente with its recent announcement of expanded partnership with Safe Routes to School National Partnership that will help to bring walking and greater physical activity to school communities across the country.

For more information about International Walk to School Day as well as planning and outreach tools, visit the official website.

Source: http://centerfortotalhealth.org/2012/walk-to-school-day-taking-steps-toward-improved-physical-activity/

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