People who take the car to work tend to be less healthy than those who find other ways to travel, according to a major British study published today.
Cyclists and walkers tend to be slimmer and have lower rates of diseases such as diabetes than drivers, researchers showed.
But in the UK even 13% of people who cycle to work are classed as obese, according to the study conducted by researchers at Imperial College, London, and University College, London.
The findings come from a survey of some 20,000 people across the UK.
Reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the study showed that people who cycled to work were half as likely to develop diabetes as drivers. And walkers were 40% less likely.
Walkers were also 17% less likely than drivers to have high blood pressure.
Researchers found that 19% of those who drove to work – including motorcyclists and taxi users – were obese compared with 15% of walkers and 13% of cyclists.
The study also showed big variations in the use of public transport and the car around the UK. Some 52% of commuters in London use public transport compared with 5% in Northern Ireland.
Researcher Anthony Laverty said: "This study highlights that building physical activity into the daily routine by walking, cycling or using public transport to get to work is good for personal health.
"The variations between regions suggest that infrastructure and investment in public transport, walking and cycling can play a large role in encouraging healthy lives, and that encouraging people out of the car can be good for them as well as the environment."
Active travel to work and cardiovascular risk factors in the United Kingdom.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 6 August 2013.
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