Living close to work is not only convenient, but also healthy, according to recent research.
A study conducted in the Dallas-Forth Worth and Austin, Texas, metropolitan areas surveyed nearly 4,300 people to determine how commuting affected their health and fitness levels.
Researchers documented participants’ commuting distances, body mass indices, and metabolic risk by measuring factors such as waist circumference, fasting glucose and lipid levels and blood pressure. Participants were also questioned about their physical activity habits for the previous three months.
Results showed that commuters who reported driving longer distances also reported taking part in less moderate or vigorous physical activity. These participants also had lower cardiorespiratory fitness levels, and higher body mass indices, waist circumference, and blood pressure overall.
This evidence suggests that the longer the commute, the more likely the association with higher weight, lower fitness and higher blood pressure levels – all of which are strong predictors of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. (more…)
