Working from home actually appears to be less healthy, as a new study reveals that “active travelers” have up to a 47 percent lower risk of death.
People who cycle or walk to and from work are at lower risk of mental and physical health problems compared with those who do not use these options, a large, long-term study suggests.
Active travel is considered to be one of the easiest ways to increase the amount of physical activity we do every day, and there is growing evidence to support its health benefits.
Researchers at the Glasgow Centre for Population Health analysed data from 82,000 people in Scotland aged 16 to 74.
Participants were asked questions including what mode of transportation they used for the majority (in terms of distance) of their commute to work.
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Almost all people who walked to work had a travel distance of less than 5 km.
Four-fifths of cyclists also travelled less than 5 km, while 14 per cent travelled between 5 and 9.9 km to work.
Meanwhile, 58 percent of inactive commuters traveled more than 5 kilometers to get to work.
During the 18-year study period, health data were also collected from participants.
Researchers found that compared with inactive commuters who drove or took public transport to work, those who walked or cycled had lower risks of death and mental and physical health problems.
Travelling by bicycle was associated with a 47 percent lower risk of death and a 10 percent lower risk of hospital admission.
It was also associated with a 30 percent lower risk of being prescribed a drug to treat cardiovascular disease, a 51 percent lower risk of dying from cancer and a 20 percent lower risk of being prescribed medications for mental health problems.
Meanwhile, walking to work was associated with an 11 percent lower risk of hospital admission for any cause, a 10 percent lower risk of receiving prescriptions for medications to treat cardiovascular disease, and a 7 percent lower risk of receiving prescriptions for medications for mental health problems.
The authors stated that active commuting has clear health benefits and can be an effective way to incorporate physical activity into everyday working life.
While the study did not directly compare the health of those working from home and those who actively commute, previous research has shown that working from home is linked to more sedentary behavior and less physical activity.
In an article published in the journal BMJ Public Health, the researchers said: “This study strengthens the evidence that active movement has health benefits at a population level and can contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality.
‘An important finding is that travelling by bicycle or on foot is associated with a lower risk of being prescribed medication for mental health problems.
New research shows that workers who commute on foot for at least 45 minutes total (or just over 20 minutes each way) have better cardiovascular health than those who rely on cars or public transport (stock image)
‘This study has broader global relevance for efforts to reduce carbon emissions and shift to more active and sustainable modes of travel.’
While the study did not determine the ideal distance for commuting to work, researchers noted that national guidelines suggest adults should spend 30 minutes a day engaging in moderate physical activity.
Both cycling and brisk walking count. So a person cycling at 14 km/h would achieve this value with a 3.5 km round trip to work.
Meanwhile, a pedestrian walking at 4.8 km/h would reach this recommended level after 2.4 km.