Active travel may have positive effects on health outcomes , but there is little robust evidence to date of the effectiveness of active transport interventions for reducing obesity .
BACKGROUND Increasing active travel ( primarily walking and cycling ) has been widely advocated for reducing obesity levels and achieving other population health benefits .
However , the strength of evidence underpinning this strategy is unclear .
This study aim ed to assess the evidence that active travel has significant health benefits .
Low physical activity as a predictor for total and cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men and women in Finland.
AIMS To investigate separately for men and women whether moderate or high leisure time physical activity , occupational physical activity , and commuting activity are associated with a reduced cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and all-cause mortality , independent of CVD risk factors and other forms of physical activity . METHODS AND RESULTS Prospect i ve follow-up of 15,853 men and 16,824 women aged 30 - 59 years living in eastern and south-western Finl and ( median follow-up time 20 years ) .  CVD and all-cause mortality were lower ( 9 - 21 % ) in men and women ( 2 - 17 % ) who were moderately or highly physically active during leisure time . Moderate and high levels of occupational physical activity decreased CVD and all-cause mortality by 21 - 27 % in both sexes . Women spending daily 15 min or more in walking or cycling to and from work had a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality before adjustment for occupational and leisure time physical activity . Commuting activity was not associated with CVD or all-cause mortality in men . CONCLUSION Moderate and high levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are associated with a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality among both sexes . Promoting already moderate levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are essential to prevent premature CVD and all-cause mortality
Active travel may have positive effects on health outcomes , but there is little robust evidence to date of the effectiveness of active transport interventions for reducing obesity .
BACKGROUND Increasing active travel ( primarily walking and cycling ) has been widely advocated for reducing obesity levels and achieving other population health benefits .
However , the strength of evidence underpinning this strategy is unclear .
This study aim ed to assess the evidence that active travel has significant health benefits .