In a new study, researchers found that walking and cycling to work were associated with fewer heart attacks across 43 million adults in England.
The research suggests that active travel could provide important health benefits.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Leeds and elsewhere.
The study looked at the 2011 UK Census data, which included 43 million people aged 25-74 years employed in England, and found that 11.4% were active commuters.
Walking was more popular than cycling (8.6% vs. 2.8%).
In areas where walking or cycling to work was more common in 2011, the incidence of heart attacks decreased for both men and women across the following two years.
Big risk factors for heart disease are a lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking and diabetes.
After adjusting for these, the researchers found that active commuting was linked with additional health benefits in some cases.
For women who walked to work, there was an associated 1.7% reduction in heart attacks the following year.
For men who cycled to work there was also an associated 1.7% reduction in heart attacks the following year.
The findings support the benefits of regular exercise and the team supports initiatives to help everyone become and stay active.
The Government has recognized the potential of active transport to help tackle physical inactivity, climate change, air pollution, and congestion.
Despite this, the proportion of people who exercise as part of their commute remains low.
The team says the effect of active commuting is fairly modest when compared with the stronger determinants of cardiovascular health such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, and regular exercise.
However, this study clearly suggests that exercising on the way to work has the potential to bring nationwide improvements to health and wellbeing.
The authors of the study include Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Olympic-medal winning triathletes and alumni of the University of Leeds.
The study is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
