Rushing through metro corridors, bracing your core to stay balanced amid jostling crowds, and bounding up stairs two at a time to catch your train—it feels like a workout. Yet, according to research from The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), public transport commuting may actually contribute to weight gain.
This RSPH study analyzed daily travel habits of over 24 million people in England and Wales who rely on public transport or cars. The primary culprit? Journey duration. Time spent sedentary in buses, trains, or cars cuts into opportunities for walking, exercise, healthy cooking, or even restful sleep. Compounding this, public transport often triggers stress and anxiety, spiking blood pressure and heightening nervousness. Exhausted commuters then gravitate toward fast food like burgers and sedentary evenings rather than preparing balanced meals.
Forewarned is forearmed. Walking a 40-minute commute? It might take considerably longer...
