An ecological study on means of transportation to work and obesity: Evidence from U.S. states

- Increased automobile usage contributes to the rising trend in the prevalence of obesity and overweight among states.
- Active transportation to work (public transportation and walking) has a negative impact on state prevalence of obesity and overweight.
- Transportation policy-makers need to consider integrating public health objectives into the transportation planning and investment process to combat obesity and overweight.
- Governments are suggested to make substantial investments toward active transportation modes such as public transportation and walking.

Obesity has become a public health problem in the United States. Policymakers are concerned with effective ways of encouraging better nutrition and more physical exercise to combat increasing levels of obesity and overweight residents. Commuting to work can be an important means for regular physical activity. Based on an ecological approach, this paper examines the effects of means of transportation to work on the prevalence of overweight and obesity at the U.S. state level. This analysis extends the previous literature by including a series of transportation variables in a regression model examining state prevalence of overweight and obesity using the most recent panel data from 2004 to 2013. We find that increased automobile usage contributes to the rising trend in the prevalence of obesity and overweight among states. In contrast, active transportation to work (public transportation and walking) has a negative impact on state prevalence of obesity and overweight. The paper concludes with policy suggestions for combating obesity and overweight by integrating public health objectives into the transportation planning and investment process.