This cross-sectional study examined the association of active commuting (walking or cycling to work) with obesity, fitness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Among the 2364 participants who worked outside the home during year 20 of the study, a total of 16.7% used any means of active commuting to work. After adjustment for age, race, education, smoking, examination center and physical activity index excluding walking, men with active commuting were less obese and had lower plasma triglyceride levels, blood pressure and fasting insulin levels compared to non commuting individuals. Active commuting was not statistically associated with any CVD risk marker in women. Although these results do not fully resolve the role of active commuting in health, they provide evidence that it could be beneficial. Such studies should promote further studies with more precise measurements of active commuting.
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