Research Reveals Spending More Than 1 Hour in The Car Could Be Damaging Your Health

The work commute, the school run, the trip to the shops… parents spend a lot of time running from one thing to another. Science Daily reports that, depending on your mode of transport, this time could be having a major (and negative) impact on your health. A new study has revealed that those who drive for more than 1 hour every day weigh more, and are therefore at greater risk of suffering from obesity as well as other health issues. Professor Takemi Sugiyama, of the Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Health and Ageing, led an experiment involving just under 3,000 adults. Those who spent an hour a day in the car were found to be 5 pounds heavier, wider around the waist by 1.5cm, and had a greater BMI (compared to those who only spent 15 minutes or less behind the wheel). The research also showed that men are more likely than women to put on weight due to their time spent on the road. Of course, other considerations would play a part in said results including diet and exercise. (For more on living a healthy lifestyle, check out our 'Fitness' and 'Nutrition' sections!)