American journal of preventive medicine
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Meta Analysis
Physical Activity Levels and New Public Transit: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Physical inactivity is a public health concern as it contributes to the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases. Introducing new public transportation options, such as extending or building new light rail or bus rapid transit stations, could encourage commuters to walk to and from public transit stops, thus increasing their physical activity levels. Despite previous research generally finding positive associations between public transit usage and physical activity levels, few have summarized the association between introducing new public transportation options and different intensities of physical activity. This study aimed to systematically review the current evidence and perform a meta-analysis on this association. ⋯ Results show new public transit options can substantially contribute to increasing low- to moderate-intensity exercise levels, which has the potential to improve health on a population scale.