Publication type
Journal Article
Authors
Publication date
June 1, 2013
Summary:
Background
Increasing active travel (walking & cycling, including to/from
public transport) is increasingly seen as integral to strategies
to raise population levels of
physical activity. This study examined: (1) socio-demographic correlates
of active travel to
work; (2) associations between
active travel and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the United
Kingdom.
Methods
Data come from Understanding Society, a nationally representative survey
of residents of the four countries of the United
Kingdom in 2009–2011. Data come from
the 20,000 respondents to the first wave of the survey who were aged 16
– 65 years and
in work. Being overweight/obese was
defined using self-reported height and weight. Hypertension and diabetes
were identified
based on responses to the questions “has a doctor ever told you that you have…” Multinomial
logistic regression was used to assess associations between
socio-demographic factors and mode of transport to
work. Logistic regression was used
to examine associations between mode of travel and being
overweight/obese, having hypertension
or diabetes. Analyses were adjusted
for age, sex, ethnicity, educational qualifications, social class, and
region of residence
in the UK.
Results
For 69% of respondents the main mode of travel to work was inactive
transport, with public transport, walking and cycling
used by 16%, 12% and 3%
respectively. Use of active travel was most often reported by
respondents living in London. Those
with professional/managerial jobs
were less likely to use each form of active transport than those with
routine jobs (AOR
0.49 [95% CI 0.43, 0.56] for
walking). Black respondents were more likely to walk (1.41 [1.08, 1.84])
or take public transport
(2.34 [1.88, 2.90]) than white
respondents. Using public transport was associated with a lower
likelihood of being overweight
than inactive transport (0.85 [0.77,
0.95]). Walking and cycling were each associated with a lower
likelihood of being overweight
(0.80 [0.73, 0.90] for walking and
0.63 [0.53, 0.75] for cycling) or having diabetes than inactive
transport, and walking
with a lower likelihood of
hypertension (0.83 [0.71, 0.95]).
Conclusion
There are wide variations in the mode of travel to work across regions
and socio-demographic groups in the United Kingdom.
The potentially protective effect of
active travel on cardiovascular risk demonstrated in this large,
nationally representative
study adds to growing evidence that a
concerted policy focus in this area will benefit population health.
Published in
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Volume
Volume: 67
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2013-203126.23
ISSN
143005
Subjects
Notes
Society for Social Medicine 57th Annual Scientific Meeting, 11–13 September 2013 Brighton and Sussex Medical School
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