Walking and cycling to work associated with fewer heart attacks

A study co-authored by Olympic medal winning triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee found that walking and cycling to work were associated with fewer heart attacks.

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, alumni of the University of Leeds, used the 2011 UK census data which included 43 million people aged 25-74 employed in England. Adjusting for heart disease, smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise and diabetes, the study found that active commuting (cycling or walking) was associated with a 1.7% reduction in heart attacks the following year for women who walked and a 1.7% reduction in heart attacks for men who cycled.

The research from the University of Leeds, partly funded by the British Heart Foundation found there was a sex difference, with more men cycling to work than women, 3.8% v 1.7% and more women walking to work than men, 11.7% v 6.0%.