Approved Research

Associations and mechanisms linking transport and health

Lay summary

Regular physical activity is widely recommended to promote health and to prevent a range of health conditions. However, many exercise programmes require special skill, time or expense, discouraging sustained participation particularly by disadvantaged groups. One practical solution would be to build physical activity into the daily routine by using active modes of transport. Active travel has been shown to improve health and also provide social, economic and environmental benefits. However, little is known about its effects on more specific health conditions. Car use, on the other hand, is a significant contributor of daily sedentary time but its effects on health is not well understood. This research therefore aims to investigate if and how transport choices influence physical, mental and cognitive health, and site-specific cancers. The findings will help tailor health promotion strategies for intervention and improve public health guidelines. There will also be opportunities for post-graduate student training in longitudinal research and big data analysis.