Elizabeth Webb1, Gopalakrishnan Netuveli, Christopher Millett. 1. Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus, Reynolds Building, London W6 8RP, UK. elizabeth.a.webb@imperial.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: All residents of England aged 60 years and older became entitled to free travel on local buses on 1 April 2006. This study examines the impact of this policy on public transport use, a mode of active transport and levels of obesity. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses using three waves of data (2004, 2006 and 2008) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Our main outcome measures were changes in self-reported public transport use, body mass index, waist circumference and obesity. RESULTS: Eligibility for free bus travel was associated with increased use (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.51, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.00) of public transport among older people. Older people who used public transport had reduced odds of being obese in 2008 compared with those who did not (AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.86), as did those who were eligible for free local bus travel (AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.97). Older people who used public transport had reduced odds of becoming obese between 2004 and 2008 (AOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: The introduction of free bus travel for older residents of England appears to have increased public transport use and may have conferred a protective effect against obesity.
BACKGROUND: All residents of England aged 60 years and older became entitled to free travel on local buses on 1 April 2006. This study examines the impact of this policy on public transport use, a mode of active transport and levels of obesity. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses using three waves of data (2004, 2006 and 2008) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Our main outcome measures were changes in self-reported public transport use, body mass index, waist circumference and obesity. RESULTS: Eligibility for free bus travel was associated with increased use (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.51, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.00) of public transport among older people. Older people who used public transport had reduced odds of being obese in 2008 compared with those who did not (AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.86), as did those who were eligible for free local bus travel (AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.97). Older people who used public transport had reduced odds of becoming obese between 2004 and 2008 (AOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: The introduction of free bus travel for older residents of England appears to have increased public transport use and may have conferred a protective effect against obesity.
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Authors: Christopher Millett; Sutapa Agrawal; Ruth Sullivan; Mario Vaz; Anura Kurpad; A V Bharathi; Dorairaj Prabhakaran; Kolli Srinath Reddy; Sanjay Kinra; George Davey Smith; Shah Ebrahim Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2013-06-11 Impact factor: 11.069