TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between Active Travel to Work and Overweight, Hypertension, and Diabetes in India: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Millett, Christopher
AU - Agrawal, Sutapa
AU - Sullivan, Ruth
AU - Vaz, Mario
AU - Kurpad, Anura
AU - Bharathi, A. V.
AU - Prabhakaran, Dorairaj
AU - Reddy, Kolli Srinath
AU - Kinra, Sanjay
AU - Smith, George Davey
AU - Ebrahim, Shah
AU - Indian Migration Study Grp
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Background: Increasing active travel (walking, bicycling, and public transport) is promoted as a key strategy to increase physical activity and reduce the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally. Little is known about patterns of active travel or associated cardiovascular health benefits in low-and middle-income countries. This study examines mode and duration of travel to work in rural and urban India and associations between active travel and overweight, hypertension, and diabetes.Methods and Findings: Cross-sectional study of 3,902 participants (1,366 rural, 2,536 urban) in the Indian Migration Study. Associations between mode and duration of active travel and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed using random-effect logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, caste, standard of living, occupation, factory location, leisure time physical activity, daily fat intake, smoking status, and alcohol use. Rural dwellers were significantly more likely to bicycle (68.3% versus 15.9%; pConclusions: Walking and bicycling to work was associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in the Indian population. Efforts to increase active travel in urban areas and halt declines in rural areas should be integral to strategies to maintain healthy weight and prevent NCDs in India.
AB - Background: Increasing active travel (walking, bicycling, and public transport) is promoted as a key strategy to increase physical activity and reduce the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally. Little is known about patterns of active travel or associated cardiovascular health benefits in low-and middle-income countries. This study examines mode and duration of travel to work in rural and urban India and associations between active travel and overweight, hypertension, and diabetes.Methods and Findings: Cross-sectional study of 3,902 participants (1,366 rural, 2,536 urban) in the Indian Migration Study. Associations between mode and duration of active travel and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed using random-effect logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, caste, standard of living, occupation, factory location, leisure time physical activity, daily fat intake, smoking status, and alcohol use. Rural dwellers were significantly more likely to bicycle (68.3% versus 15.9%; pConclusions: Walking and bicycling to work was associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in the Indian population. Efforts to increase active travel in urban areas and halt declines in rural areas should be integral to strategies to maintain healthy weight and prevent NCDs in India.
KW - PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
KW - CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
KW - PUBLIC-HEALTH
KW - LEISURE-TIME
KW - RISK-FACTORS
KW - OBESITY
KW - TRANSPORT
KW - MEN
KW - MORTALITY
KW - LESSONS
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001459
DO - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001459
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 23776412
SN - 1549-1277
VL - 10
JO - PLoS Medicine
JF - PLoS Medicine
IS - 6
M1 - 1001459
ER -
