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Research: Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study

Cycling to work can cut the risk of developing heart disease or cancer by more than 40 per cent, according to research from the University of Glasgow published in the British Medical Journal.

Active commuting 1

Key findings:

  • Commuting by cycling was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and adverse cardiovascular disease and cancer outcomes.
  • Mixed mode commuting, including a cycle component, was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cancer outcomes.
  • Policies designed to affect a significant shift to more active modes of commuting, (eg, cycle lanes, city bike hire, subsidised cycle purchase schemes, and increasing provision for cycles on public transport) may present major opportunities for the improvement of public health.

The researchers analysed data from 263,450 participants who were asked questions about their usual mode of commuting to work.

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