Background
Limited evidence exists on the metabolic and cardiovascular risk correlates of commuting
by vehicle, a habitual form of sedentary behavior.
Purpose
To examine the association between commuting distance, physical activity, cardiorespiratory
fitness (CRF), and metabolic risk indicators.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 4297 adults who had a comprehensive medical examination
between 2000 and 2007 and geocoded home and work addresses in 12 Texas metropolitan
counties. Commuting distance was measured along the road network. Outcome variables
included weekly MET-minutes of self-reported physical activity, CRF, BMI, waist circumference,
triglycerides, plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and
diastolic blood pressure, and continuously measured metabolic syndrome. Outcomes were
also dichotomized using established cut-points. Linear and logistic regression models
were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol intake, family
history of diabetes, and history of high cholesterol, as well as BMI and weekly MET-minutes
of physical activity and CRF (for BMI and metabolic risk models). Analyses were conducted
in 2011.
Results
Commuting distance was negatively associated with physical activity and CRF and positively
associated with BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and
continuous metabolic score in fully adjusted linear regression models. Logistic regression
analyses yielded similar associations; however, of the models with metabolic risk
indicators as outcomes, only the associations with elevated blood pressure remained
significant after adjustment for physical activity and CRF.
Conclusions
Commuting distance was adversely associated with physical activity, CRF, adiposity,
and indicators of metabolic risk.
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© 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
