Ditch the Car: Active Commuting Cuts Risk of Diabetes, High Blood Pressure

By forgoing the car and opting for a more active commute, a person can cut their risk of developing diabetes by as much as 40 percent, a new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine shows.

Led by researchers at Imperial College London and University College London, the report examines how 20,000 people throughout the UK traveled to work and compared this to a number of health indicators, many of which put a person at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

In doing so, they found that cycling, walking and using public transport were all associated with a lower risk of being overweight than driving or taking a taxi.

Specifically, the data showed that 19 percent of working age adults who used private transportation -- such as cars, motorcycles or taxis -- to get to work were obese, compared to 15 percent of those who walked and 13 percent of those who cycled to work.

Meanwhile, people who walked to work were also 17 percent less likely than people who drive to have high blood pressure.

All told, cyclists were around half as likely to have diabetes as drivers.

Based on these findings, the researchers argue that people can reduce their risk of serious health problems such as heart attacks as well as diabetes by simply avoiding the use of a car.

"This study highlights that building physical activity into the daily routine by walking, cycling or using public transport to get to work is good for personal health," said Anthony Laverty, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London.

Though, the researchers note, not everyone has the option to pursue these more active forms of commuting.

Public transportation, they found, was used most in London, at 52 percent, compared with just 5 percent in Northern Ireland.

"The variations between regions suggest that infrastructure and investment in public transport, walking and cycling can play a large role in encouraging healthy lives, and that encouraging people out of the car can be good for them as well as the environment," Laverty concluded.