Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Active commuting may hold a potential for preventing adverse health outcomes. However, evidence of the association of active commuting and the risk of health outcomes remains debatable. The current study systematically and quantitatively summarised research findings on the association between active...

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Main Authors: Jian Wu, Yudong Miao, Yu Feng, Xin Zeng, Soumitra S Bhuyan, Ning Chen, Quanman Li, Clifford Silver Tarimo, Cuiping Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-06-01
Series:BMJ Global Health
Online Access:https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/6/e005838.full
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author Jian Wu
Yudong Miao
Yu Feng
Xin Zeng
Soumitra S Bhuyan
Ning Chen
Quanman Li
Clifford Silver Tarimo
Cuiping Wu
author_facet Jian Wu
Yudong Miao
Yu Feng
Xin Zeng
Soumitra S Bhuyan
Ning Chen
Quanman Li
Clifford Silver Tarimo
Cuiping Wu
author_sort Jian Wu
collection DOAJ
description Active commuting may hold a potential for preventing adverse health outcomes. However, evidence of the association of active commuting and the risk of health outcomes remains debatable. The current study systematically and quantitatively summarised research findings on the association between active commuting and the risk of the mentioned health outcomes. We comprehensively searched four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Open Grey) from inception to 2 August 2020 for observational studies investigating the associations among adult population. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were estimated for the association. Heterogeneity was investigated using Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate linear and nonlinear relations. The search yielded 7581 initial references. We included 28 articles in the meta-analysis. Compared with inactive commuting, active commuting reduced the risk of obesity (RR=0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.94, I2=69.1%), hypertension (RR=0.95, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.04, I2=82.2%) and diabetes (RR=0.82, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.90, I2=44.5%). Restricted cubic splines showed linear associations between active commuting and obesity, hypertension and diabetes (Pnonlinearity=0.640; Pnonlinearity=0.886; Pnonlinearity=0.099). As compared with the lowest active commuting group, the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the highest active commuting group were reduced by 13% (95% CI 0.82 to 0.93, I2=65.2%); 6% (95% CI 0.86 to 1.02, I2=75.2%) and 19% (95% CI 0.73 to 0.91, I2=49.8%) respectively. Active commuting seemed to be associated with lower risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously because this meta-analysis was based solely on observational studies.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020202723.
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spelling doaj-art-58d029f9949048d081eab532f3e3c3f22025-08-20T02:10:44ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082021-06-016610.1136/bmjgh-2021-005838Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studiesJian Wu0Yudong Miao1Yu Feng2Xin Zeng3Soumitra S Bhuyan4Ning Chen5Quanman Li6Clifford Silver Tarimo7Cuiping Wu8Department of Neurology, Tiantai People`s Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Service Management, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People`s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People`s Republic of ChinaSchool of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New York, New York, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaActive commuting may hold a potential for preventing adverse health outcomes. However, evidence of the association of active commuting and the risk of health outcomes remains debatable. The current study systematically and quantitatively summarised research findings on the association between active commuting and the risk of the mentioned health outcomes. We comprehensively searched four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Open Grey) from inception to 2 August 2020 for observational studies investigating the associations among adult population. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were estimated for the association. Heterogeneity was investigated using Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate linear and nonlinear relations. The search yielded 7581 initial references. We included 28 articles in the meta-analysis. Compared with inactive commuting, active commuting reduced the risk of obesity (RR=0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.94, I2=69.1%), hypertension (RR=0.95, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.04, I2=82.2%) and diabetes (RR=0.82, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.90, I2=44.5%). Restricted cubic splines showed linear associations between active commuting and obesity, hypertension and diabetes (Pnonlinearity=0.640; Pnonlinearity=0.886; Pnonlinearity=0.099). As compared with the lowest active commuting group, the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the highest active commuting group were reduced by 13% (95% CI 0.82 to 0.93, I2=65.2%); 6% (95% CI 0.86 to 1.02, I2=75.2%) and 19% (95% CI 0.73 to 0.91, I2=49.8%) respectively. Active commuting seemed to be associated with lower risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously because this meta-analysis was based solely on observational studies.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020202723.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/6/e005838.full
spellingShingle Jian Wu
Yudong Miao
Yu Feng
Xin Zeng
Soumitra S Bhuyan
Ning Chen
Quanman Li
Clifford Silver Tarimo
Cuiping Wu
Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
BMJ Global Health
title Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_full Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_fullStr Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_full_unstemmed Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_short Active commuting and the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_sort active commuting and the risk of obesity hypertension and diabetes a systematic review and meta analysis of observational studies
url https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/6/e005838.full
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