Useful Reading

This page lists publications relevant to the work of Active Travel, including reports from government and specialists in the areas of health and transport. Follow the links below to find publications in your area of interest.

Latest publications

Key publications

Physical activity and health
Walking, cycling and health
Obesity and overweight
Non-communicable disease
Physical activity and the environment
Workplace active travel
Health inequalities
Sustainable healthcare
Active play and travel

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Latest Publications

BHF National Centre (2009) How to engage inactive communities in physical activity: Top tips from the BHFNC 8th Annual Conference

NHS Sustainable Development Unit (2009) Fit for the Future: Scenarios for low-carbon healthcare 2030

Department of Health (2009) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: One Year On

TNO (2009) Reduced sickness absence in regular commuter cyclists can save employers 27 million euros

World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research (2009) Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention. Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity: a Global Perspective

Department of Health (2009) Be active, be healthy - A plan for getting the nation moving

Department of Health (2009) Health Profile of England

NHS Sustainable Development Unit (2009) NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England

NHS Information Centre (2008) Health Survey for England 2007: Healthly lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour

Department for Transport (2008) Delivering a Sustainable Transport System

WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Urban Policy (2008) Freiburg Study Tour

Policy Exchange (2008) Weighing in: Dealing with the challenge of obesity

WHO (2008) A healthy city is an active city: a physical activity planning guide

WHO (2008) Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health

Department of Health (2008) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Toolkit for developing local strategies

SEPHO (2008) Choosing Health in the South East: Road Transport and Health

South East Public Health Observatory (2008) Road transport and health in the south east

CABE (2008) Civilised Streets

TCPA (2008) Design to delivery: eco-towns transport worksheet

Department for Transport (2008) Building Sustainable Transport into New Developments: A Menu of Options for Growth Points and Eco-Towns

NICE (2008) Promoting physical activity in the workplace

Key publications

NICE (2008) Promoting physical activity in the workplace

NICE (2008) Physical activity and environment

Department of Health (2008) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A cross government strategy for England 

Foresight (2007) Tackling Obesities: future choices

World Health Organisation (2007) A guide for population-based approaches to increasing levels of physical activity: implementation of the WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

Northern Ireland Department of Health (2006) Fit Futures: Focus on food, activity and young people

Welsh Assembly Government (2005) Climbing Higher - The Welsh Assembly Government strategy for sport and physical activity

Department for Transport (2004) Walking and Cycling: An action plan

Department of Health (2004) At least five a week - evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - a report from the Chief Medical Officer

Wanless, Derek (2004) Securing good health for the whole population, final report, HM Treasury

House of Commons Health Committee (2004) Obesity - third report of session 2003-04 volume 1, the Stationery Office

CABE (2006) Physical activity and the built environment

Physical Activity Task Force (2003) Let's Make Scotland More Active - A strategy for physical activity, Scottish Executive

Physical activity and health

Age Concern (2006) Take Control of Your Future

Association of Public Health Observatories (2005) - Indications of Public Health in the English Regions 3: Lifestyle and its impact on health (Supporting implementation of the White Paper Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices Easier)

Department of Health (2007) On the state of public health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2006

Department of Health (2007) Choosing health progress report - May 2007

Department of Health (2007) The national evaluation of LEAP: final report on the national evaluation of the Local Exercise Action Pilots

Department of Health (2006) Health Challenge England - next steps for Choosing Health

Department of Health (2006) Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services

Department of Health (2005) Delivering Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier

Department of Health (2005) Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan

Department of Health (2005) Public Attitudes to Self Care - Baseline Survey

Department of Health (2004) Choosing Health - Making healthy choices easier

Department of Health (2004) The NHS Improvement Plan - Putting People at the Heart of Public Services

European Commission (2007) White Paper: Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity

European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA Europe) (June 2007) Newsletter Issue no. 4

King's Fund (2004) Putting Health First, Prevention rather than Cure: Making the case for choosing health

NHS Information Centre (2008) Health Survey for England 2006: CVD and risk factors adults, obesity and risk factors children

NHS Information Centre (2009) Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2007) Behaviour Change

NICE (2007) MI: secondary prevention - Secondary prevention in primary and secondary care for patients following a myocardial infarction, clinical guidance 

South East Public Health Observatory (2006) Choosing Health in the South East: Physical Activity

Sport England (North West Region) and North West Regional Public Health Group (2007) Evaluating Sport and Physical Activity Interventions: A guide for practitioners

Sport England (2007) Community Sports Networks Implementation and Investment Guidance 

World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research (2007) Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective

World Health Organisation (2004) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

World Health Organisation (2006) Physical activity and health in Europe: evidence for action

Walking, cycling and health

Cycling England (2007) Valuing the Benefits of Cycling

Department for Transport (2008) Building Sustainable Transport into New Developments: A Menu of Options for Growth Points and Eco-towns

Department for Transport (2007) Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon World

Department for Transport (2006) Transport Trends, Chapter 8. 'Health and Environment'

Department for Transport (2005) Attitudes to walking and cycling (results from Office of National Statistics Omnibus Study)

Department for Transport (2004) Walking and cycling success stories

Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (2007) Attitudes on issues related to EU Transport Policy

Ege, Christian and Krag, Thomas (2005) Cycling will improve environment and health

Evidence for Policy and Practice Information Centre (2007) A synthesis of research addressing chidren's, young people's and parents' views of walking and cycling for transport 

German Institute of Urban Affairs (2007) Sustainable Urban Transport and deprived urban areas. Good Practice Examples in Europe

Pan-European programme on transport, health and environment (2007) Methodological guidance on the economic appraisal of health effects related to walking and cycling

Pan-European programme on transport, health and environment (2007) Health economic assessment tool for cycling (HEAT for cycling) - User guide

South East Public Health Observatory (2008) Road transport and health in the south east

Sustainable Development Commission (2007) Healthy Futures - The natural environment, health and well-being

Sustainable Development Commission (2007) Healthy Futures - Sustainable transport and active travel

World Health Organisation (2002) A Physically active life through everyday transport

Obesity and overweight

British Medical Association (2005) Preventing Childhood Obesity

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2006) Investing for Health - Fit Futures

Health Development Agency (2003) The management of obesity and overweight, an analysis of reviews of diet, physical activity and behavioural approaches - evidence briefing

House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts (2007) Tackling Child Obesity - First Steps

Institute for European Environmental Policy and Adrian Davis Associates (2007) Unfit for Purpose: How Car Use Fuels Climate Change and Obesity

Joint Health Surveys Unit (2006) Forecasting Obesity to 2010

King's Fund (2007) Our Future Health Secured? A review of NHS funding and performance

MRC Human Nutrition Research (2007) The ‘Healthy Living' Social Marketing Initiative: A review of the evidence

MRC Human Nutrition Research (2003) A Leaner Fitter Future - Options for Action 

National Audit Office (2001) Tackling Obesity in England

National Heart Forum (2007) Lightening the load: Tackling overweight and obesity - updated toolkit

NHS Information Centre (2008) National Child Measurement Programme

NICE (2006) Obesity: the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children

Royal College of Physicians (2004) Storing up problems: The Medical case for a slimmer nation

South East Public Health Observatory (2005) Choosing Health in the South East: Obesity

WHO (2007) The challenge of obesity in the WHO European Region and the strategies for response

Non-communicable disease

British Heart Foundation (2007) Coronary Heart Disease Statistics

Department of Health (2005) On the state of the public health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2004

European Society of Cardiology and the European Heart Network (2007) European Heart Health Charter

Faculty of Public Health and National Heart Forum (2005) Easing the pressure: tackling hypertension - A toolkit for developing a local strategy to tackle high blood pressure

Office for National Statistics Social Trends No. 37, 2007 edition, Section 7. Health

World Health Organization (2002) The World Health Report 2002 - Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life

Physical activity and the environment

Bird, William (for the RSPB) (2004) Natural Fit - Can Green Space and Biodiversity Increase Levels of Physical Activity?

CABE (2008) Civilised streets

CABE (2007) It's our space: a guide for community groups working to improve public space

Commission for Rural Communities (2007) The State of the Countryside 2007

Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Planning for a Sustainable Future: White Paper

NEW: Department for Transport (2008) Building Sustainable Transport into New Developments: A Menu of Options for Growth Points and Eco-Towns

Department for Transport (2007) Travel in Urban and Rural areas factsheet

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Netherlands (2007) Cycling in the Netherlands

National Heart Forum, Living Streets and CABE (2007) Building Health: Creating and enhancing places for healthy, active lives: What needs to be done?

ODPM Planning Policy Statements (including 'Delivering Sustainable Development' and 'Planning for Town Centres')

Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution (2007) The Urban Environment

Sport England (2007) Active Design: Promoting opportunities for sport and physical activity through good design

Sustainable Development Commission (2007) Building houses or creating communities? A review of Government progress on Sustainable Communities

Sustainable Development Commission (2007) Healthy Futures - The natural environment, health and well-being

NEW: Town and Country Planning Association (2008) Eco-towns worksheets

World Health Organisation (2006) Promoting physical activity and active living in urban environments. The role of local governments. The solid facts

Workplace active travel

Dame Carol Black (2008) Working for a healthier tomorrow - Review of the health of Britain's working age population

Department for Transport (2007) The Essential Travel Planning Guide

Department for Transport (2007) Smart moves: your travel plan news

Department for Transport (2007) Travel to work factsheet

Department for Transport (2005) Cycle to Work Scheme Implementation Guidance

Department for Transport (2002) Making travel plans work - research report and lessons from UK case studies

Department for Transport (2002) Using the planning process to secure travel plans - research report and best practice guide

Department of Health/Department for Work and Pensions/Health and Safety Executive (2005) Health, work and well-being - Caring for our future: A strategy for the health and well-being of working age people

NICE (2008) Promoting physical activity in the workplace

NEW: Sustainable Development Commission (2008) Good Corporate Citizenship - The Business Case

World Economic Forum (2007) Working Towards Wellness

Health inequalities

Department of Health (2007) Health profile of England 2007

Department of Health (2004): Summary of intelligence on inequalities

Department of Health (2003): Tackling Health Inequalities - A Programme for Action

Institute of Rural Health (2005) Rural Proofing for Health : A Toolkit for Primary Care Organisations

ODPM and Department of Health (2005) Creating Healthier Communities: A resource pack for local partnerships

ODPM (2003) Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion, Report by the Social Exclusion Unit

Victoria Transport Policy Institute (2006) Community Cohesion as a Transport Planning Objective

Sustainable healthcare

Best Foot Forward Ltd (2004) Material Health - A mass balance and ecological footprint analysis of the NHS in England and Wales

Department of Health (2007) A guide to the NHS for local planning authorities

Department of Health (2007) A guide to town planning for NHS staff

Department of Health (2006) Sustainable Development Action Plan 2006

Department of Health (2005) Sustainable development: Environmental strategy for the National Health Service

NEW: Faculty of Public Health (2008) Sustaining a Healthy Future – taking action on climate change

King's Fund (2002) Claiming the Health Dividend - unlocking the benefits of NHS spending

NHS Confederation (2007) Taking the temperature: Towards an NHS response to global warming

NHS Confederation (2007) Healthy and Sustainable. The NHS as a good corporate citizen

NICE (2006) Accessibility planning and the NHS: improving patient access to health services

NEW: Sustainable Development Commission (2008) Healthy Futures: The NHS and Climate Change

UK Public Health Association (2007) Climates and Change: The Urgent Need to Connect Health and Sustainable Development

Scotland

Health in Scotland

NHS Scotland (2006) Health in Scotland 2005 - Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Executive

NHS Health Scotland (2005) Health Education Population Survey, Update from 2004 Survey, Final Report

Scottish Public Health Observatory (2007) Obesity in Scotland: an epidemiology briefing

Physical activity and health

Glasgow Centre for Population Health (2007) Health and the Physical Characteristics of Urban Neighbourhoods: a Critical Literature Review

Health Scotland (2007) Active in Later Life resource

Health Scotland (2007) Developing a Physical Activity Strategy in Scottish Local Authorities

NHS Scotland (2007) Physical activity briefing papers (search for 'briefing papers' in the Resources section)

NHS Scotland (2003) Partnership for Care - Scotland's Health White Paper, Scottish Executive

NEW: Physical Activity and Health Alliance (2008) Physical Activity Case Studies

Physical Activity and Health Alliance (2008) Physical activity and inequalities (briefing paper)

Physical Activity and Health Alliance (2008) The health impacts of sedentary behaviour (briefing paper)

Physical Activity and Health Alliance (2006) Physical Activity and Health Policy Map 1

Physical Activity Task Force (2003) Let's Make Scotland More Active - A Strategy for Physical Activity, Scottish Executive

NEW: Scottish Government (2008) Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011)

Scottish Government (2006) Delivering a Healthy Scotland - Meeting the Challenge

Scottish Government (2006) Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity: Public Participation, Barriers and Attitudes

Scottish Government (2004) Healthy Working Lives: a plan for action

Scottish Government (2004) Health Education Population Survey (HEPS) 1996-2003

Scottish Government (2003) Improving Health in Scotland - The Challenge

Scottish Public Health Network (2007) Scottish Obesity Action Resource National Report

Transport and health

Health Scotland (2007) Health Impact Assessment of Transport Initiatives: A Guide

Scottish Government (2007) Scottish Household Survey 2006, Section 5. Transport and travel

Scottish Government (2007) Statistical Bulletin - Travel by Scottish residents: some national travel results for 2004/2005 and earlier years

Scottish Government (2006) Key Transport Statistics December 2006

Scottish Government (2006) Joined Up Policy and Practice In Health and Transport

Scottish Government (2006) Promoting Active Lifestyles: Good Ideas for Transport and Health Practitioners

Scottish Government (2005) Scottish Household Survey Analytical Topic Report: Accessibility and Transport

Scottish Government (2005) Scottish Household Survey Analytical Topic Report: Mode Choice

Scottish Government (2005) Scotland's Transport Future: Guidance on Local Transport Strategies

Scottish Government (2005) Travel by Scottish Residents: Some National Travel Survey Results for 2002/2003 and Earlier Years

Scottish Government (2005) Statistical Bulletin Trn/2005/2 Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary results for 2003

Scottish Government (2004) Consultation on a Walking Strategy for Scotland - Analysis of Responses

Wales

National Public Health Service for Wales (2007) Tackling Obesity in Wales: the Current Situation

Sports Council Wales (2006) Framework for the development of sport and physical activity
Cymraeg

Wales Environment Link (2005) A Good Practice Guide to Health and Environment Projects
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2006) Climbing Higher – Next Steps 
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2005) Developing a Physical Activity Action Plan
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2005) Climbing Higher - The Welsh Assembly Government Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2003) Healthy and Active Lifestyles in Wales: a Framework for Action
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2003) Walking and Cycling Strategy for Wales
Cymraeg

Welsh Assembly Government (2003) The Review of Health and Social Care in Wales

Welsh Assembly Government (undated) Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) - Briefing Series: 1 Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Obesity

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Walking Forum/Department for Regional Development (2003) Walking Northern Ireland - An Action Plan 

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Policy Northern Ireland Five Year Physical Activity Strategy and Action Plan – Consultation

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