Active commuting from youth to adulthood and as a predictor of physical activity in early midlife: The Young Finns Study

- Active commuting (AC) declines with age, while AC distances increase in adulthood.
- Regular AC is concurrently and prospectively associated with PA.
- Maintained AC is associated with physical activity (PA) 27 years later, in adulthood.
- Persistent AC in both youth and young adulthood predicts high PA in early midlife.

ObjectiveThe aims of the study were to describe the stability of active commuting (AC) behavior (i.e., walking and cycling) over 27 years and examine the relationship between AC and physical activity (PA) from youth to early midlife.MethodsThe mode and distance of travel were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire at five consecutive measurements between 1980 and 2007, when 2072 individuals were followed up from youth (9-18 years) to adulthood (30-45 years). PA was also measured using a questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of AC declined sharply with age, particularly after 12 years, while AC distances to work or place of study increased substantially. AC was concurrently and prospectively associated with PA in both men and women. Maintained AC, whether walking or cycling and short or long distances, positively predicted adult PA over time. Compared with persistently passive commuters, persistently active commuters had higher adult PA after adjustment for potential covariates. Increasing AC was independently associated with high adult PA, particularly in young adulthood.ConclusionsWalking and cycling to school/work should be encouraged, as regular AC is associated with higher levels of PA over 27 years of follow-up, and thus, may contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle through the various stages of life-course.