A large study published in BMJ Public Health found that people who cycle or walk to work or school might have better mental and physical health than those who don’t. The research showed the greatest health benefits among cyclists, who had a 47% lower risk of dying from any cause.
Active travel, which includes walking and cycling, is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to increase daily physical activity. Researchers note that increasing evidence supports active travel’s health benefits. However, previous studies have often been limited by short monitoring periods, narrow age ranges, and limited health outcomes.
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To address these limitations, the researchers used the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) data, which includes 5% of the Scottish population based on census data from 1991, 2001, and 2011. The study focused on people aged 16 to 74 in 2001 who travelled to work or school in the UK. After excluding incomplete data, the final analysis included 82,297 people.
Participants were asked about their main mode of travel for the longest part of their commute. Walking or cycling were considered as active travel, while all other methods were considered “inactive.” The responses were linked to national hospital records for various health issues, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, road traffic collisions, and mental health drug prescriptions from 2001 to 2018.
The study considered several factors that could influence the results, such as age, sex, pre-existing health conditions, socioeconomic status, and distance to work or school.
Between 2001 and 2018, 4,276 participants died (just over 5% of the study group), with almost half dying from cancer (2023; 2.5%). Over 64% of participants (52,804 people) were admitted to the hospital for various reasons, including cardiovascular disease (12%), cancer (7%), and road traffic collisions (3%).
Additionally, 38.5% of participants were prescribed medication for cardiovascular disease between 2009 and 2018, and 41% were prescribed drugs for mental health issues during the same period.
Comparisons with inactive commuters showed that those who walked to work or school were more likely to be female, younger, shift workers, living in cities, and commuting shorter distances. They also tended to have lower household incomes and educational levels and were less likely to have dependent children. Cyclist commuters were more likely to be males, younger, city living, and shift workers, and they were less likely to be homeowners or caregivers.
After adjusting for these factors, the study found that active commuting was linked to lower risks of death and mental and physical health issues compared to inactive commuting. Specifically, cycling was associated with a 47% lower risk of death, a 10% lower risk of any hospital admission, and a 24% lower risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular disease.
Cyclists also had a 30% lower risk of being prescribed drugs for cardiovascular disease. Their risk of dying from cancer was 51% lower. Their risk of being hospitalized for cancer was 24% lower than others. Their risk of being prescribed drugs for any mental health problems was also reduced by 20%. However, the chances of cyclist commuters being hospitalized after a road traffic collision were twice as likely compared to inactive commuters.
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Walking to work or school was associated with an 11% lower risk of hospital admission for any cause and a 10% lower risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular disease. It was also linked to 10% and 7% lower risks of being prescribed drugs for cardiovascular disease and mental health issues, respectively.
While this is an observational study and cannot definitively establish cause and effect, the researchers acknowledged some limitations. For example, the census data only reflects one point in time and does not include general physical activity levels. Additionally, prescription data was only available from 2009 onward, and the census data did not account for multimodal trips, potentially leading to overlap between active and inactive commuters.
The researchers concluded that their study adds to the evidence that active commuting offers significant health benefits and can help reduce illness and death rates. They highlighted the importance of having a safe cycling infrastructure, as cyclist commuters had a higher risk of road traffic injuries.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
