This article seemed interesting to me not only because I commute to work but it made me wonder why some patients explain that they can't find the time to exercise. Being a doctor, I realize today's lifestyles are extremely busy but you must make time for your health, or suffer the consequences.
This article was written by Dr. Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Hoehner and her team looked at the commuting habits of 4,297 people. She also measured key metabolic and health indicators and compared them among the participants. Body Mass index (BMI), Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF), blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference were among some of the indicators monitored. In addition, Dr. Hoehner also had the participants complete a survey regarding individual assessments of their activity/ exercise levels.
The study found that those who had to travel the farthest to and from work were the ones who showed the poorest measurements in the health indicators mentioned. These people were also the ones who reported the lowest activity/exercise levels as well. Now that just might seem like common sense, those who spend more time commuting have less time to exercise, right? Yes, but lets look at the consequences for a moment. The longest commuters were measured to have the lowest cardiorespiratory fitness as well as the highest BMI's, waist circumference and blood pressures.
Another interesting finding was that the 'tipping point' distance was somewhere around 15 miles (about 24 kms) At this distance and further, the likelihood participants would show poor health indicators measurements was significantly higher.
Moral of this story is that if your commute to work is long or especially long, you really must make an effort to exercise! Understandably, the time spent during your commute takes away from the time doing the things you 'want' to do, but your health and even your life, may depend on it!
Questions or comments? Leave them here. In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? visit Dr. Chan's office or check out the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!
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