It's hardly rocket science, but a recent US study has found that the longer your daily car commute, the more obese you're likely to get, writes Brian Byrne.
The study—which will be published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medecine—found that longer trips to and from work correlated with various indicators of poor health, including decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, increased weight, high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure.
Based around the Dallas/Fort Worth region in Texas, more than 4,000 motorists were tracked in the investigation. Those who travelled more than 10 miles a day had generally higher blood pressure, those who did more than 15 miles a day were more likely to be obese.
Car commuting in the US averages 15 miles a day, or 21 minutes, according to the US Department of Transportation. Some 11 percent travel more than 30 miles a day, which can translate into over 400 hours a year sitting in your car.
