Health

Study finds walking or biking to work is better for your overall health

By Mallika Marshall, MD

July 17, 2024 / 5:51 PM EDT / CBS Boston

Research shows walking or biking to work can improve your overall health

BOSTON -- Research shows that people who walk or bike to work are mentally and physically healthier than those who don't.

A recent study conducted by researchers in the United Kingdom involved more than 82,000 people ages 16 to 74 for over 18 years. They found that those who walked to work or school experienced fewer hospitalizations and were less likely to be prescribed drugs for cardiovascular disease or mental health issues, compared to non-active commuters.

In addition to those health benefits, bike commuters had a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and death overall. Cyclists did, however, have a higher risk of traffic collisions but the benefits outweighed the risks.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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