Effects of School Consolidation on Physical Activity in Primary School Children: A 1‐Year Prospective Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims To my knowledge, there is limited evidence regarding the association between school consolidation and commuting rates or physical activity. A longitudinal examination of the relationship between school consolidation, in which multiple schools are merged into a single school, and school commuting, as well as physical activity can provide policymakers with essential evidence for school allocation decisions. Therefore, this study examined active transport and physical activity longitudinally before and after school consolidation. Methods This study was conducted in four primary schools to assess commuting time/modes and physical activity. One year after the consolidation of these schools, commuting time/modes and physical activity were reassessed. The final analysis included 33 participants (17 boys and 16 girls), with a mean age of 9.1 ± 1.2 years before consolidation and 10.0 ± 1.3 years after consolidation, who participated in both baseline and follow‐up assessments. Participants' modes of school commute and the commuting time were investigated using a questionnaire. Physical activity was assessed by an ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometer. Results Time spent walking to and from school was lower after school consolidation than before school consolidation (−17.5 min/day [95% CI: −35.0 to 0.0, p < 0.041]). Moreover, this study observed that weekday step counts was significantly lower after school consolidation compared with before consolidation (−2316.4 steps/day [95% CI: −3545.2 to −1256.3, p < 0.001]), while weekend activity remained unchanged. Conclusion These results highlight the importance for policymakers to prioritize school planning that promotes walking to school whenever feasible.