Continuity and Changes in Work Commuting Modes and Their Associations With Overall Physical Activity and Weight Status Among Finnish Adults.

Background: This paper aims to examine and compare the levels and changes in physical activity (PA) and weight status over an 11-year follow-up among adults with varying commuting modes to work.

Methods: Overall, 1357 Finnish adults (Mage = 37.4 y, at baseline) participated in the study during 2007-2008, 2011-2012, and 2018-2020. Commuting mode to work and PA were self-reported by questionnaires at baseline and follow-ups. In addition, data on device-measured PA (pedometers and accelerometers), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were collected. Linear mixed effects and linear regression models were used to compare the levels and changes in weekday step counts, BMI, and waist circumference among study participants with different work commuting modes.

Results: Active commuters took, on average, 953 to 1345 more daily steps than passive commuters. Walkers and public transport users recorded more daily and aerobic steps than car users in both summer and winter, whereas cyclists showed this difference only in winter. Those who became active commuters during the follow-up increased their daily steps more (+763 steps per day, P = .028) than persistently passive commuters, whose daily steps remained unchanged. Over the 11-year follow-up, BMI and waist circumference increased, but the increase in BMI was smaller (-0.4 kg/m2) among persistently active commuters compared with persistently passive commuters.

Conclusions: Active work commuting modes, including the use of public transport, contributed to higher overall PA measured by daily steps. Persistent active commuting over 11 years was associated with healthier BMI development compared with persistent car use.