Leave the Car at Home and Take a Bus to Lose Weight

Looking to lose weight? Then go to work on public transport like bus or train than by your car, suggests a new study.

The study published in the Journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology showed that cycling or walking to work can help lower body weight and even commute through public transportation system will have a significant effect.

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‘Commuting to work by walking, cycling or public transport can help reduce body weight and body fat.’

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The research was conducted by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine experts among 150,000 British individuals aged 40 to 69, out of which 64% of men and 61% of women drove to work while 4% of men and 2% of women cycled or combined cycling and walking.

They found that people who walk or cycle to work have a lower body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) than those who drive. And even those who travel on public transport have lower BMI and percentage body fat than car drivers.

Men who used public transport weighed 2.2kg less; and those who mixed public transport with walking or cycling were 3.1kg lighter. Cycling and walking also reduced the body fat of men and women, by 2.75% and 3.26% respectively.

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Bus/train commuters had even lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight than the walkers or bikers.

Lead researcher Dr Ellen Flint, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, “We found that, compared with commuting by car, public transport, walking and cycling or a mix of all three are associated with reductions in body mass and body fat percentage, even when accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Many people live too far from their workplace for walking or cycling to be feasible, but even the incidental physical activity involved in public transport can have an important effect.”

She added, “Encouraging public transport and active commuting, especially for those in mid-life when obesity becomes an increasing problem, could be an important part of the global policy response to population-level obesity prevention.”

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Source-Medindia

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