Abstract
ObjectivesTo examine whether there are associations between active travel and markers of a healthy, low-carbon (HLC) diet (increased consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV), reduced consumption of red and processed meat (RPM)).DesignCross-sectional analysis of a cohort study.SettingsPopulation cohort of over 500 000 people recruited from 22 centres across the UK. Participants aged between 40 and 69 years were recruited between 2006 and 2010.Participants412 299 adults with complete data on travel mode use, consumption of FV and RPM, and sociodemographic covariates were included in the analysis.Exposure measuresMutually exclusive mode or mode combinations of travel (car, public transport, walking, cycling) for non-work and commuting journeys.Outcome measuresConsumption of FV measured as portions per day and RPM measured as frequency per week.ResultsEngaging in all types of active travel was positively associated with higher FV consumption and negatively associated with more frequent RPM consumption. Cycling exclusively or in combination with walking was most strongly associated with increased dietary consumption of FV and reduced consumption of RPM for both non-work and commuting journeys. Overall, the strongest associations were between non-work cycling and FV consumption (males: adjusted OR=2.18, 95% CI 2.06 to 2.30; females: adjusted OR=2.50, 95% CI 2.31 to 2.71) and non-work cycling and RPM consumption (males: adjusted OR=0.57, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.60; females: adjusted OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.59). Associations were generally similar for both commuting and non-work travel, and were robust to adjustment with sociodemographic and behavioural factors.ConclusionsThere are strong associations between engaging in active travel, particularly cycling, and HLC dietary consumption, suggesting that these HLC behaviours are related. Further research is needed to better understand the drivers and dynamics between these behaviours within individuals, and whether they share common underlying causes.
Highlights
Participants who did not provide any information on travel mode use (n=7272) or dietary consumption (FV or red and processed meat (RPM), n=1820) were excluded, yielding an initial sample size of 493 524
Statistical analysis Associations between each measure of travel behaviour and each dietary outcome were examined using multivariate ordinal regression models in Stata/SE V.14.0.42 We used ordinal logistic regression in order to model the trends in dietary consumption while keeping the ‘extremes’ as useful categories. This enabled meaningful interpretation of the relationships with a view to national dietary recommendations and potentially discontinuous changes in the associations between travel and dietary behaviour. Though these relationships could plausibly go in either direction, we modelled them in this way based on previous hypotheses[30] as well as neurocognitive research which suggests that physical activity (PA) may be more likely to lead to dietary changes than vice versa.[43 44]
Sensitivity analyses In the subset of the sample with full data on energy intake and PA (n=95 475 females, n=83 213 males), adjusting for these variables in addition to the other sociodemographic and environmental factors slightly attenuated the associations between any active travel and FV consumption, but the relationship was still independent and highly significant among both males and females
Summary
Increasing concerns about global climate change combined with rising rates of chronic disease have led to greater policy attention on behaviours and lifestyles that are beneficial for both human health and the natural environment.[1,2,3] From this perspective, two priority behaviours that have been identified are engaging in healthy, low-carbon (HLC) travel (eg, walking and cycling for transport) and consuming HLC diets (eg, reduced consumption of meat, increased consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV)).[4,5,6,7,8] Modelling studies have shown that a population shift towards these behaviours would lead to a range of health and environmental cobenefits: increased life expectancies, decreased rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, as well as large reductions in transport and food-related greenhouse gas emissions.[3 6 7 9,10,11,12] These shifts are in line with national health guidelines. These dietary principles are in alignment with the recently published ‘planetary health diet’ which argues that huge changes in consumption of fruits, vegetables and red meat are needed on a global scale if we are to stay within safe planetary boundaries.[17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
