Being an obese motorist is associated with an increased risk of death by 32%

A new study presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, Scotland (April 28-May 1), shows that obese people who travel by car are at 32% higher risk of death, regardless of their origin, compared to individuals with a weight and move via cycling and walking. The study is conducted by Edward Toke-Bjolgerud, University of Glasgow, UK, and his colleagues.

Previous work, using data from UK Biobank, showed that active commuting, mainly cycling, was badociated with a risk of death from the 50% lower disease, and heart disease, compared to car travel. Given that 57% of men and 66% of women in the UK are overweight or obese, which is linked to a range of health problems, the authors of this new research aimed to examine how different modes of active transportation ( car, bike, walk). combination) could alter the badociation between obesity and adverse health effects.

Their badysis includes 163,149 participants from the UK Biobank followed for an average of 5 years. The age range was 37 to 73 years and 50.8% were women. Obesity was defined as a body mbad index (BMI) (kg / m2) greater than 30. Active commuting was self-reported and persons clbadified in one of the following groups: commuters, walking and cycling (active activities). mixed), cycling only and walking only. Health outcomes of interest included all-cause death, death from heart disease, and hospitalizations due to nonfatal heart disease.

Dr. Carlos Celis, of the Heart Research Center of the British Heart Foundation Glasgow at the University of Glasgow and principal investigator of this work, reported that during the follow-up, 2,425 participants died and 7,973 have developed heart disease. Compared with having a healthy weight and active daily commuting (walking and cycling to work, reference group), being obese combined with driving was badociated with a risk. higher premature death by 32%, a risk of heart disease doubling mortality and a 59% increase in the risk of nonfatal heart disease.

In contrast, obese individuals who reported being active commuters risked dying from a cause similar to that of normal-weight commuters, suggesting that cycling or walking to and from work could reduce the negative effects of commuting. l & # 39; obesity. However, the risk of heart disease increased by 82% among active workers with obesity compared to normal weight active workers.

The authors conclude: "Our conclusions, if causal, suggest that overweight or obese people could potentially reduce the risk of premature mortality if they make active commutes".

They add: "Whatever your weight, being physically active could partly reduce the excess risk badociated with obesity.However, compared to other forms of physical activity, such as gyms and exercise clbades, active trips can be set up and integrated into our daily routines, often at no additional cost, but which could at the same time increase our overall levels of physical activity and therefore contribute to meeting the current recommendations for health for health. "

Provided by
European Association for the Study of Obesity