Bicycling and Walking to and from School: Does It Affect Students' Body Mass Index and Aerobic Capacity?

Abstract

This study investigates the differences between students who regularly cycle or walk when going to and from school and students who do not cycle or walk on body mass index and aerobic capacity. This comparative research involved 20 male students who were obtained using quota sampling techniques and divided into two groups. The first group consists of 10 students who have the habit of going to and from school by bicycle or walking (BW group). In comparison, the second group consists of ten students who do not have the habit of going to and from school by bicycle or walking (including being dropped off/picked up by their parents) (Non-BW group). The research instruments used were weight scales, height measuring instruments, and a 20-meter pacer test. The data analysis technique used is the independent sample t-test. Results of differences between the BW group vs. Non-BW group revealed that there was a significant difference in mean values in the aerobic capacity variable (29.1 ± 2,883 vs. 26.39 ± 2,822 ml/kg/min, p<0.005), while in the body mass index variable there was no significant difference (21,089 ± 3.702 vs. 22.216 ± 4.968 kg/m2, p>0.005). This research concludes that students in the BW group show better aerobic capacity than Non-BW group students. However, the body mass index showed no significant differences between the two groups.